About Me
Hi, my name is Angela.
I am a Parent Coach and a HeartMath® Certified Coach.
I am also very grateful to be a mother and stepmother of two girls.
Let me tell you a bit about myself.
How it all began…
Child development has always been a passion of mine. This is why I was keen to become a teacher after I graduated from Nottingham Trent University however, the educational and disciplinary methods used in mainstream schools didn’t appeal to me. I felt there needed to be a more compassionate and supportive way of doing things. It was a revelation when I discovered the Montessori Method (Montessori Society AMI (UK) - Montessori Education). I was so excited to learn more about this beautiful way of teaching that I enrolled at the Montessori Centre International in London and began a post-graduate diploma in pedagogy.
In 1999, I became a fully qualified Montessori teacher. I then spent time teaching pre-school children at Montessori schools and nurseries in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Manchester. I gained so much from this experience. I loved watching the children in my care develop, in particular, their social and emotional skills. Also witnessing their love for learning and exploration growing and evolving was such a joy. I felt so privileged to be a part of this important developmental stage of so many children’s lives.
During this time, I also supported neurodiverse children in mainstream schools. This work helped me to develop a deep understanding of the challenges that neurodiverse children and their families encounter on a daily basis.
I was then given the responsibility of setting up and managing a day nursery on the Wirral. Montessori philosophy was central to how I designed both the physical layout of the nursery, as well as the structure of the days there.
Over the years, I had always enjoyed supporting parents with the challenges they encountered raising their children, so I decided to move into a job where this was my main focus. I became an Early Intervention Family Support Worker at Worcestershire County Council. I believe parents have the greatest impact on their children’s development, so it was very rewarding to support many parents whilst working in this field.
Becoming a parent…
However special it is to become a parent, I’m sure many will agree that nothing quite prepares you for the reality of having children. Becoming a mother was the start of a new learning journey for me. Parenting – as rewarding as it is – comes with its own set of challenges. I was keen to find new ways to support myself so I could parent in a conscious, respectful, and compassionate way. So I explored, researched, further trained, and tried many new ways to support myself, my children, and my family.
Mindfulness to the rescue…
My journey with mindfulness began in 2015. I attended an eight-week course that was truly life-changing. Practicing mindfulness brought me innumerable benefits. I found myself becoming calmer, more patient, and kinder to myself. Parenting became easier too, as I started to handle challenging situations differently. Rather than reacting in the moment, due to getting caught in my emotions, I was instead able to let the emotions flow through me. This allowed me to remain present and respond effectively and compassionately to the situation at hand.
Mindfulness perfectly complemented my way of parenting. I could see how this way of living positively impacted the relationships I had with my children, deepening the connection between us. I was keen to share these wonderful benefits with other parents, so I trained as a Mindful Parenting Coach with Hunter- Clarke Fields, Mindful Mama Mentor. It is a joy teaching the Mindful Parenting Course and witnessing the many benefits parents and families experience.
During my work as a Mindful Parenting Coach, I noticed that some parents were finding it difficult to fit mindful meditation into their daily lives, therefore missing out on its great benefits, such as reducing stress, thinking clearer, and becoming more patient. At this time, I was also deep into my perimenopause journey. The challenges I was encountering meant that my daily practice of mindful meditation wasn’t easy for me either. I too was missing the wonderful benefits it brings.
Superpower!
Then I discovered HeartMath. Wow! It was just what I needed! The techniques were quick, easy, and could be used in the moment. I was suddenly energised and motivated in a way I hadn’t felt before. I was also connecting to myself on a deeper level. This was having a positive knock-on effect on all areas of my life. I was flowing through life with such ease, I surprised myself! I couldn’t believe how much these simple techniques and methods I had learned through HeartMath could create so many life-changing benefits. It felt like I’d gained a superpower! I was eager for others to experience this too, so I became a certified HeartMath Coach.
Bringing all I’ve learned and experienced together; I created Loving Connected Parenting.
I look forward to sharing this with you!
Qualifications
BA Hons Human Services – Nottingham Trent University
Postgraduate Internal Diploma Montessori Pedagogy – Montessori Centre International, London
Qualified Infant Massage Teacher – Touch Learn International Limited
Level 4 Group Triple P Positive Parenting Programme Accredited Provider/Facilitator – The University of Queensland, Australia
Family Links Nurturing Programme – Worcestershire County Council
Protective Behaviours Foundation Level – Protective Behaviours UK
Mindful Parenting Coach – Hunter Clarke-Fields, Mindful Mama Mentor
HeartMath Certified Building Resilience Coach – HeartMath UK
