“I Was Called a ‘Weak Mother’ for Gentle Parenting—Now My 3-Year-Old Has Better Emotional Control Than Most Adults” From Mocked to Mentor:
Sushama's Parenting Revolution.
When Sushama PV held her newborn daughter close to her chest, she was met with raised eyebrows and unsolicited advice. "Why are you spoiling her?" chided relatives. "Let her cry—it’ll make her strong." But Sushama, a civil engineer from the small town of Pandikkad, Kerala, knew better. The conflicting voices around her revealed a deeper problem: modern Indian parents were drowning in outdated advice and misunderstood trends.
Sushama's Parenting Revolution.
When Sushama PV held her newborn daughter close to her chest, she was met with raised eyebrows and unsolicited advice. "Why are you spoiling her?" chided relatives. "Let her cry—it’ll make her strong." But Sushama, a civil engineer from the small town of Pandikkad, Kerala, knew better. The conflicting voices around her revealed a deeper problem: modern Indian parents were drowning in outdated advice and misunderstood trends.
Three years later, she’s not just a mother to an emotionally resilient toddler but a certified parenting coach, published author, and poet—transforming lives by teaching true gentle parenting: one rooted in boundaries, consistency, and healing the inner child.
The Myth of ‘Gentle Parenting’ in India
Most Indian parents confuse "gentle parenting" with being permissive. They fear it will raise "weak" adults who can’t handle life’s challenges. Sushama’s work shatters this myth:
"Gentle parenting isn’t about giving in to tantrums. It’s tough love—standing firm on rules even when your child melts down. It’s showing them anger is just an emotion, and apologizing doesn’t make you small. Most importantly, it’s being the person you want them to become," she explains.
Her approach resonates deeply in joint families, where grandparents, aunts, and uncles each have competing philosophies. "In the West, parents only battle screen time. Here, we battle screen time and ‘Don’t carry the baby so much!’ from five relatives at once," she laughs. Sushama equips parents to hold their ground without disrupting family harmony—a skill she honed firsthand.
From Engineer to Healer: A Mother’s Journey
Sushama’s transition from building bridges to building emotionally secure children wasn’t accidental. When her daughter was born, she noticed a gap:
"Traditional methods focused on obedience, not connection. Modern advice ignored our cultural context. I needed a middle path."
She immersed herself in child psychology, became an international certified parenting coach adapting global research to Indian realities. Today, her 3-year-old is proof of her methods’ power: "When my daughter asks, ‘Amma, how are you feeling?’ I know I’ve raised someone who sees people as humans, not roles."
Raising Parents, Not Just Children
Sushama’s coaching goes beyond tactics.
She helps parents heal their own wounds to break generational cycles. "You can’t teach emotional regulation if you’re still screaming into pillows. Parenting isn’t about raising kids—it’s growing with them," she says.
Her workshops blend science and soul:
For toddlers: How to set boundaries without fear or bribes.
For parents: Managing guilt when saying "no" to relatives.
For families: Navigating screen time and academics without losing joy.
The Book Every Indian Parent Needs
Her upcoming book, Why Is My Child Melting Down? (Aseem Prakashan), is a lifeline for parents of toddlers. "No theoretical jargon—just ground-tested strategies from one parent to another," she says. The book decodes:
Tantrums: What your child’s brain actually needs in meltdowns.
Cultural Pressures: How to politely ignore "advice" that doesn’t serve you.
Resilience: Raising kids who adapt without losing their voice.
In an era of academic pressure and digital overload, Sushama’s work is revolutionary. "Our children don’t need more ‘hacks.’ They need us to see them," she says.
To parents drowning in guilt or confusion, she offers this: "Start small. One boundary held. One apology modelled. One deep breath before reacting. That’s gentle parenting—and it’s the hardest, bravest work you’ll ever do."
Final Insight from Sushama PV
"Think of parenting like building your child's favourite blanket fort. Some days, it stands tall and proud - those perfect moments when your toddler shares without being asked or says 'I love you' out of the blue. Other days, the whole thing comes crashing down in tears and tantrums. But here's the secret: it's not about building a perfect fort that never falls. It's about being the steady hands that help rebuild it each time - with the same patience, the same love, and maybe an extra pillow for comfort."
"That's what gentle parenting really is. Not never saying no. Not avoiding all meltdowns. But being the calm, consistent presence your child can collapse into and rebuild with. After all, even the Taj Mahal needed strong foundations - and so do our children's hearts."