Aware Parenting Stories with Joss Goulden

Episode 112 - Inhabiting Aware Parenting. Embracing Imperfection with Belynda Smith

Aware Parenting Stories with Joss Goulden

Show Notes

I am delighted to share another episode in the series of conversations I am having with Aware Parenting instructors about embracing Imperfection. This is a powerful conversation with Belynda Smith, who was on episode 75 of my podcast. Belynda has been a hand in hand instructor since 2017 and an Aware Parenting instructor since 2023. She lives in WA with her 2 boys.

In this conversation Belynda shares her painful experiences of starting parenthood wanting to be perfect and the shame, judgement and hurt that she experienced when she realised that was not possible. We talk about the power of listening partnerships to receive validation, safety and unconditional acceptance to enable us to offer compassion to ourselves and our children. She shares some of her favourite phrases to increasing self-compassion and shares some examples of difficult and painful moments in her family and how she has found her way back to connection and love.

To learn more about Belynda, please visit her website https://belyndasmith.com.au and follow her on social media at belyndasmithparenting.

To learn more about The Aware Parenting Retreat with Danni Willow and Joss Goulden, please visit https://awareparenting.com.au/aware-parenting-retreat/

To learn more about my Aware Parenting Teenagers Course that Belynda mentions, please visit https://awareparenting.com.au/my-courses/aware-parenting-teenagers/

If you would like support with this or any other aspect of Aware Parenting, I am here for you.

More from Aware Parenting Stories with Joss Goulden

Oct 9, 2026

This episode is another beautiful conversation with Danni Willow. We talk about our imprints around belonging and sisterhood from our childhood and how they can shape our relationships with other women as adults. We share how we have supported ourselves to find safety, trust and authentic connection in friendship now as women. We discuss learning how to navigate rupture and repair in friendship just as we do with our children after times of disconnection. We share the power of Aware Parenting supporting us to be willing to listen to another's feelings without judgement and understanding what is underneath behaviour rather than taking it personally. We validate the deep painful feelings that come when friendships end. We discuss the journey of Motherhood and the essential importance of connection with other mothers, sharing the journey and learning how to be vulnerable and how to celebrate together. We discuss the healing power being in spaces with other mothers, offering and receiving unconditional love and acceptance.

Oct 5, 2026

Welcome back to another episode in the series of conversations about Attachment Play, this time in conversation with Linde Lambrechts, mother of 2 boys, psychologist and Aware Parenting Instructor in Belgium

Sep 29, 2026

I am so happy to share another episode in the series of conversations about Attachment Play, this time in conversation with Vivian Viester. Vivian is a level 2 Aware parenting Instructor in the Netherlands and has a 15 year old son.

Sep 23, 2026

I am so happy to share another episode in the series of conversations about Attachment Play, this time all about Contingency Play. I talk about why this type of play is so beneficial for children and how to offer these games. I share lots of examples of contingency games. I talk about why it can be hard for us to play in this way and share some ideas of how you might support yourself to have more capacity for contingency games.

Sep 19, 2026

In this episode, Danni Willow and I share vulnerably some of our own healing journey through motherhood in this last year. We talk about the importance of finding support and safety in order to bring transformation to ourselves through hard times, especially as Aware Parenting mothers giving so much to our children. We discuss finding love, care, tenderness and understanding to hold us in this work. We share the process of bringing more self-care and self-connection in the bigness of motherhood. We share some reflections and learnings for us from the Exploring Motherhood & Aware Parenting Community and our excitement about the 5th year of this community starting soon.

See all episodes →