Seeing Yourself in Your Child: Reclaiming the Sensitive Inner Landscape

Seeing Yourself in Your Child: Reclaiming the Sensitive Inner Landscape”

By Jessica Hicks, Truth Love and Connection

When we parent a sensitive child, we’re often surprised by how much it brings up from our own story.

Moments of overwhelm.
Deep feelings we were once told were “too much.”
The ache of not being seen for who we were.
The shame of needing more gentleness in a world that prized toughness.

Parenting a highly sensitive child is not just about offering them what they need. It’s also an invitation to heal the parts of ourselves that were never met with that same tenderness.

It’s a mirror.
It’s a reckoning.
And—if we allow it—it’s a sacred re-parenting journey.

When Your Child's Reactions Mirror Your Own

Maybe your child melts down when plans change suddenly, and you feel your heart tighten—not just with the stress of the moment, but with a buried memory of being told to “get over it” when you struggled as a child.

Or maybe they withdraw from noisy crowds, and your instinct is to push them—just as you were pushed. Just as you learned to disconnect from your needs in order to fit in.

This is where awareness begins.
Not with perfection, but with curiosity.

Can we pause and ask:

Where do I still carry the ache of not being understood?

What part of me is asking to be re-parented right now, as I try to show up for my child?

Your Inner Sensitive Child Deserves the Same Care

The truth is, many of us are parenting sensitive children with wounds that were never acknowledged in ourselves.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about reclaiming the chance to grow alongside your child.

Re-parenting looks like:

• Validating your overwhelm instead of suppressing it

• Creating safe routines for yourself, not just your kids

• Speaking kindly to the parts of you that were once shamed for needing rest, space, or softness

• Allowing yourself to feel big emotions without fear

Walking the Path Together

You don’t have to have it all figured out to be a good parent.

In fact, the more we embrace our own learning, the more permission we give our children to grow without fear of failure.

This is the heart of conscious parenting.
Not fixing everything.
But showing up—messy, loving, and real.

The healing you long for?
It’s not separate from your parenting journey.
It’s woven into the daily moments—if you’re willing to pay attention.

Reflection Prompt:

In what ways is your child showing you the parts of yourself still longing for gentleness?

Resources for Further Exploration:

• Dr. Kristin Neff on Self-Compassion

• Dr. Elaine Aron’s work on sensitivity across the lifespan

• “The Deepest Well” by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (on childhood adversity and healing)

What if parenting your child is also an invitation to re-parent yourself?
If you’re on a healing path, our immersion-style guided meditations and self-reflection tools offer powerful support. And our Navigating Sensitivity Program will walk you through the deeper process of reconnecting with your truth, your needs, and your nervous system—all at your own pace.