Practicing Self Compassion: A Monthly Conversation with 'Parent T0k'

December's Meeting Topic

This month, parental insight expert Karla Reid-Witt and Elizabeth Reddick are discussing self compassion and how it’s deeply related to self care. This conversation is inspired by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin’s ‘Real Self Care’ book which guides and empowers women to fulfilling true self-care, asserting boundaries, embracing compassion, and challenging oppressive systems.

About Parenting T0k

Parenting T0k is a safe space for parents and caregivers to talk about challenges, seek advice, and offer each other emotional support. Conversations aim to foster understanding, reduce stigma, and provide resources for supporting various aspects of children’s mental well-being. Participants can learn new skills through engaging activities and interactions with fellow caregivers.

Parenting T0k is based on a simple but powerful idea: to skillfully nurture children’s mental and emotional well-being, caregivers’ growth in their own well-being journey must be nurtured. To that end, Parenting T0k provides a dedicated space for caregivers to learn, heal, and grow together. Rather than focusing on a specific way to parent, Parenting T0k helps caregivers build essential personal skills like self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy. These skills serve as powerful tools to not only improve caregiver well-being - helping them feel more grounded and confident - but also to empower caregivers to build more thoughtful and connected relationships with their children.

We come together every month to affirm and strengthen the caregiving experience. Through open, courageous, and compassionate dialogue, Parenting T0k gatherings grow self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and leadership among caregivers.

Who is the host of these meetings?

The DC Consortium of Practice (DC CoP) was a five-year initiative led by The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (CHHCS) to strengthen school behavioral health across DC. Within this project, various practice groups were formed to focus on specific areas such as family and youth engagement, teacher wellness, trauma-informed care, and positive school climate. These smaller groups allowed members to dive deeper into targeted topics, share strategies, and implement best practices.

Though the formal five-year DC CoP project has concluded, the conversations and learning continue through ongoing initiatives, including monthly gatherings like Parenting T0k, which build on the community, resources, and collaborative spirit fostered during the DC CoP.

More specifically, Parent T0k was inspired by DC parental insight expert Karla Reid-Witt and launched by the Family Youth Engagement Practice Group in October 2023, Parenting T0k offers a safe place for families to practice skills, share stories, and build community through honest conversations and emotional support.

Parenting T0k was created by caregivers, for caregivers.

Interested in learning more?

• Parent T0k Padlet
• DC CoP website
• CHHCS website