Insight•Inner Child
Here's a revolutionary idea: you can parent yourself now.
Not to replace what happened. Not to pretend the wounds don't exist. But to give yourself—today, as an adult—what you needed then as a child.
This is called reparenting.
What reparenting means:
Reparenting is becoming your own ideal parent—the one you needed but didn't have. It means:
- Speaking to yourself with kindness
- Setting healthy boundaries (for yourself and others)
- Providing structure, routine, and safety
- Celebrating your wins, no matter how small
- Comforting yourself when scared or sad
- Guiding yourself through difficult decisions
You didn't choose your childhood parents. But you can choose how you parent yourself now.
The two parts of you:
In reparenting, there are two roles you play:
- **The inner child:** The wounded, needy, hurting part that carries old pain
- **The inner parent:** The wise, caring, strong part that can respond
Both live inside you. The practice is learning to let the parent care for the child.
When you need guidance in reparenting, Grief Compass Journal offers prompts and practices.
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