The inner child is a concept that has been thoroughly explored by psychologists and psychotherapists throughout time. Carl Jung called it the “Divine Child,” Sandor Ferenczi the “Wise Child,” Emmet Fox the “Wonder Child,” and Charles Whitefield the “Child Within.” Each discipline of thought has its own specific explanation for this aspect of the self. The inner child and adolescent is the part of our personality that represents those phases in our life, and are a part of the whole, integrated self.
It’s strange to think that being mature and grown up can be a liability rather than an asset. But it can. When you are a child the world is full of possibilities. There is so much you can do and so much you can be. It seems as though anything is possible. One of the hardest things to do in life is to rekindle the possibilities and hope of our childhood. For those who want to achieve greatness this is important because, as Mencius observed, “The great man is he who does not lose his child's-heart.”
When we fully embrace the Inner Child, we honor our truest spirit and give ourselves permission to feel and live out loud again, instead of looking toward outside sources for approval. The Inner Child could also be called our Inner Voice or True Self. True adulthood hinges on acknowledging, accepting, and taking responsibility for loving and parenting one's own inner child.
We should not as adults now expect others to meet all of these unfulfilled childhood needs. They cannot. Authentic adulthood requires both accepting the painful past and the primary responsibility for taking care of that inner child's needs, for being a "good enough" parent to him or her now--and in the future. We are all ultimately responsible for taking over the parenting role of our inner child when we become adults.
What happened to us as children matters,
but does not have to define us.
I came across the following Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto and it struck me that not only is this a wonderful example of a healthy parenting plan, but it is also an example of a Family Mission Statement. It can also be useful as a re-parenting tool for practicing the self-care of parenting the inner child. Keep your role as parent of your own inner child in mind as you read the Wholehearted Manifesto, created by Brene Brown and her husband when they became parents.
The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto
Above all else, I want you to know that you are loved and lovable. You will learn this from my words and actions--the lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself.
I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness. You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.
We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both.
We will teach you compassion by practicing compassion with ourselves first; then with each other. We will set and respect boundaries; we will honor hard work, hope, and perseverance. Rest and play will be family values, as well as family practices.
You will learn accountability and respect by watching me make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how I ask for what I need and talk about how I feel.
I want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude.
I want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable.
When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the spirit that is a part of our everyday life.
Together we will cry and face fear and grief. I will want to take away your pain, but instead I will sit with you and teach you how to feel it.
We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here.
As you begin your Wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give to you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly.
I will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly, but I will let you see me, and I will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you. Truly, deeply, seeing you.
Excerpts for this article were retrieved from:
choosing a title for this blog! *smile* 
