Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

Kennedy’s central message is that children are inherently good, even when their behavior is disruptive. She reframes unwanted behaviors as a child’s way of communicating unmet needs or developmental struggles, rather than as evidence of a “bad” child. This perspective allows parents to respond with empathy and curiosity, asking questions like “What is my child trying to express?” instead of defaulting to punishment. For example, instead of scolding a child for yelling, a parent might acknowledge their frustration and guide them toward calmer expression. This approach aligns with attachment-based parenting and developmental psychology, which emphasize emotional safety over behavioral compliance. In practice, parents can adopt grounding mantras such as “My child is having a hard time, not giving me a hard time,” to maintain perspective. Over time, this shift in mindset fosters stronger parent-child connection, emotional regulation, and long-term behavioral change without relying on shame or fear-based discipline.

Kennedy distinguishes between firmness and harshness, encouraging parents to uphold boundaries with empathy rather than aggression. The key is to validate a child’s feelings while clearly asserting limits. For example, instead of yelling, “Stop hitting your brother!” a parent might say, “I know you’re angry, but I won’t let you hit.