Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah R. Moore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sarah R., thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My peaceful parenting journey began about halfway through my daughter’s four-month standard medical checkup. She was thriving, ahead on all her milestones. Smiling, rolling, babbling, and snuggling were her favorite pastimes. We were happily growing and learning together; she as a little human, and I as a new mama.
My husband and I had chosen her first pediatrician wisely enough. He was the senior owner of his medical practice and had many years of experience. His wall was covered in accolades and advanced degrees; his résumé included being repeatedly voted as the best pediatrician in our city. A friend of ours used him for all three of her kids and loved him. And, as fate would have it, he happened to be the doctor assigned to check on all the newborns at the hospital the day our daughter was born, so we felt it was a sign that he was right for us.
In his office for that four-month checkup, however, I wasn’t so sure. He’d seemed a bit grumpy during our prior visits, but his qualifications being what they were, I’d given him the benefit of the doubt. We’re all entitled to bad days; it surely wasn’t personal.
We waited for him in the patient room to which we’d been assigned.
He thundered in shortly thereafter and began with, “What questions do you have?”
I offered a “Hi.” I asked him something about child development, and he retorted with a quick, “If you’d read the handout the nurse gave you before I came in [he picked it up and shook it for emphasis], you wouldn’t be asking things like this.”
A bit taken aback, I responded, “Actually, what the nurse handed me is paperwork about two-month milestones, and this is my child’s four-month visit. Do you have the paper for her age, please? I’d be happy to read it to see if it answers my question before we continue.”
He grabbed the two-month paper and tossed it in the trash, not handing me the alternative, and not answering my question.
Instead, he continued, “How’s sleep?”
Responding honestly, I offered, “She had a seven-hour stretch last week for the first time. So, I got a little overconfident. We’re up every couple of hours again, but I’m okay with it. She’s getting her first tooth a little early and working on lots of new skills. This, too, shall pass. We’re happy.”
To that, he growled, “You’re ridiculous! Don’t ever go to her when she cries. She’s manipulating you. Let me know when you’re ready to get serious about parenting.”
Frozen with the unexpected insult, I let him proceed with the rest of her wellness check. Indeed, she was growing and thriving. She was, holistically, getting plenty of sleep. And I was fine with being there for her when she needed me, day or night. I considered it a privilege.
We’d lost her older sister halfway through that pregnancy. Did he not know how much my heart longed to be there for this child? That going to her when she called was exactly what I wanted to do—that holding and “omforting her was the greatest earthly gift I’d ever known? I was perfectly happy to take sleep day by day.
I spent the next few days feeling livid and replaying the conversation in my mind. I questioned my intuition about picking up my baby, going back and forth in a crazy-making loop. How dare he imply that I wasn’t serious about parenting! I was fully committed, fully present, and fully engaged in the well-being of my child. She didn’t make me respond to her; I chose to respond because it was my instinct to do so.
I wanted to pick up my baby.
We never saw him again, and we moved on to a much-better-informed and more sensitive pediatrician.
I did not release our interaction emotionally, however. It continued to bother me. I ruminated. My frustration with his inane advice kept growing.
Rather than fight my anger, I decided to lean into it and listen to the message it had to tell. Once I started listening, I realized it was igniting my passion to support other adults in situations similar to mine. It fueled my desire for education about child development. It drove me to encourage new parents to trust themselves, to allow themselves to be physically and emotionally present for their children.
The very next day, I went to the bookstore and bought my first gentle parenting book.
From there, like an Olympic swimmer in training, I dove into all the resources I could find about respectful and positive parenting. I wanted to have all the science, knowledge, and expertise I could possibly find to validate that it is, indeed, a good idea to be kind and responsive to children. (Go figure.)
Our pediatrician planted a seed that day—a desire in me to “get serious about parenting” in a whole new way.
Now, as an author and accredited and evidence-based parenting coach with a thriving community, I want to empower other parents to walk out of a situation—be it a doctor’s office or anywhere else they don’t feel supported—and say, “No. This isn’t right. I want better for my child. Where can I find that?” My mission is to support exactly these parents and caregivers and help them do better for, and alongside, their children.
[Reprinted with permission from the author of “Peaceful Discipline”]

Sarah R., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sarah R. Moore is the author of “Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science & Better Behavior” and founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting. As a certified Master Trainer in conscious parenting and Board President for the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, she’s also a public speaker, accredited parent coach, armchair neuroscientist, and most importantly, a Mama. With training in child development, trauma recovery, interpersonal neurobiology, improv comedy and play, her work supports parents and caregivers around the globe.

With her non-judgmental, evidence-based, and heart-centered approach, Sarah offers evidence-based mini-courses as well as in-depth mentoring for parents and caregivers. She’s interviewed some of the leading experts in the fields of child development, psychology, neuroscience, mental health, and other related fields, and makes those resources available to those who want them. Further, she helps existing parent coaches, therapists, educators, and other professionals enhance their knowledge and skill sets. Whether you’re new to connection-based parenting or already an expert, she has something to support your journey.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that I can’t be “everything to everybody.” Finding my niche, being authentic, and speaking my heart — even when my work doesn’t go “viral” — is always more important than pretending to be someone I’m not, or pretending to have expertise in an area that I don’t. Authenticity matters a lot to me, and you’ll see me being very real online (and offline).

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth is powerful. I deeply appreciate how my clients have grown trust me with their most valuable assets: their families’ well-being. Once they know I’m the real deal and will meet them with compassion wherever they are on their journey, they confidently recommend my work to others. I appreciate their willingness to do this since I don’t overtly ask for it. I’m not in the game of marketing or pushing things I don’t believe in; people see that about me and it resonates.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dandelion-seeds.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dandelionseedspositiveliving/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DandelionSeedsPositiveParenting/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-r-moore-b0535b7/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DandelionSeedsPositiveParenting/featured
• Soundcloud: Coming soon!
• Other: https://www.threads.net/@dandelionseedspositiveliving

Image Credits

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