From a very young age, I knew I wanted to parent differently to how I was raised, and break my generational cycle. But when the time came I realised I didn’t actually know how to do that with my own child, despite all of my years of professional experience supporting children, teens, and their families. As a parent, I was constantly being triggered and I saw myself repeating the same patterns I promised I would end.
It was like a mirror was held up, showing me the generational baggage I was still carrying. I felt thepressure to get it right for my son. I knew something had to change and fast, before his childhood years flew by. So…
I did my research. I tried and tested things that didn’t work ~
> Strategies from parenting books that only really worked short term (without the inner work I needed to really change things at my core)
> Natural supplements for anxiety and stress (which didn’t tackle the cause, only the symptoms)
> Advice from family, friends and social media quick fixes (that didn’t apply to my family set up, my lived experience or triggers from my childhood, or my son’s individual temperament)
Desperate for a solution, I returned to Inner Child Healing, which I had briefly visited in my own self development before I became a mum, BUT I found it profoundly different with my motherhood hat on. I went deeper. Like a detective, I snooped around in my childhood, and my family tree.
I finally got to the bottom of why I was tense, snappy, and on the brink of blowing up at my child, and the people around me, far too often (pretty much daily). And on top of that I began to understand myself better than ever before.
After decades of assuming ‘this was just me’, I discovered that my people-pleasing habits, lack of boundaries, refusal to accept help, and my strive for perfection (to name only a few) actually came from the way I was raised. THAT gave me a powerful drive, even more than before, to change things for my son – to protect him from developing those same ‘personality traits’.
I committed to making a change in our lives…
I worked on myself from different angles – the adult, the mother, and the little girl within me, I trained as a positive parenting coach, I applied my newfound knowledge to my own parenting, and it worked ~
> I could see the difference in the way my son and I connected almost straight away.
> Our bond became stronger, so his independence and confidence grew from secure attachment.
> I felt grounded, calmer, and present instead of trying to escape the moment by doom scrolling or being ‘too busy’.
> My patience and tolerance grew quickly, which actually led to fewer outbursts from him.
> I built on my empathy with a new ability to see things from his point of view.
> I found new confidence in myself as a parent, and self-trust in my decision-making.
> I could tell he had a new level of trust in me – that I could keep him safe, emotionally.
> I became predictable – even if I snapped or blew up, I would quickly repair our connection.
Motherhood has been an incredible experience ever since…
And it still amazes me every day that we’re moving through his childhood together in a way that feels right for us, not what works for someone else. I can see the HUGE difference it’s making for my family.
The combination of learning how to parent with confidence, how to heal from my own childhood, and how to REALLY break the cycle (not just try to) has been so LIFE-CHANGING that I decided to pivot my coaching business to help other mothers like me.
If my story sounds anything like yours, I would love to help you too.
Why you’re in good hands with me, as your coach ~
MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ~
> 350+ clients supported through 1:1 & group coaching, workshops, trainings, resources and similar support roles over 20 years –
> Past clients include adults & parents, but also children, teens, and young people from 3-25+ years – through coaching individuals & groups, as well as roles in education settings including work as the Head of Boarding, House Parent, College Learning Coach and supporting roles in SEN schools & SEN adult career support
MY CREDENTIALS ~
> Positive Parenting Coach ICAHP, IPHM, CMA, CPD & NCCAP
> Inner Child Healing Coach IPHM & CPD
> Life Coaching Diploma CPD
> Trauma Aware Parenting CPD
> Podcast Host: The Cycle Breaking Mama Podcast: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
> Published Author: Kerry Explains The Law of Attraction by Kerry Laws
Some other quirky info that makes me who I am ~
My background also includes training in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to become a certified Reiki Healer, I also trained to practice Transcendental Meditation, and I spent time practicing mindfulness and meditation with the Vietnamese Monks in Khao Yai under the tutelage of Thich Naht Hanh.
I love yin yoga (the kind that means I can lie down and relax), a 5 minute swim followed by a 15 minute jacuzzi (you get the idea), binge watching reality tv, winding up my husband until he starts cursing in Italian (which I don’t speak), but above all else, my favourite thing in the world is time spent with my son (especially those cuddles where he leans in and smiles, reading stories with a full cast of voices, building strange things out of lego, being very silly together, rocking out in the car, and belly laughing about rude songs, farts, snot and poo).
