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

Chapter 01 of 30

Introduction

Marco Bennett understands the sleepless nights and endless tantrums. He turns parental frustration into hope and empowerment, helping you bridge the gap between where you are and the parent you aspire to be.

Forget the old playbook of time-outs and rewards. Marco champions a connection-first approach, diving deep into your child’s emotional world to foster trust and respect while maintaining firm boundaries.

Blending Eastern philosophies with practical strategies, Marco offers a unique method that nurtures both parent and child. It’s not just about better behavior—it’s about cultivating a peaceful, thriving family.

From building connection capital to tackling everyday challenges like sibling rivalry and anxiety, Marco equips you with clever tools to handle any situation with confidence and warmth.

You don’t have to choose between authority and empathy. With Marco’s guidance, you can achieve a harmonious home where both you and your child flourish.

Chapter 02 of 30

Good Inside

Imagine viewing yourself and your children as inherently good inside—compassionate, loving, and generous. This powerful belief transforms how you respond to challenging behaviors, shifting from frustration to curiosity and fostering meaningful change.

When anger takes the wheel, it’s easy to label behaviors as bad. But recognizing that every action is a sign of internal struggle allows you to separate the person from their actions, preserving relationships while guiding improvement.

The concept of Most Generous Interpretation (MGI) encourages parents to see the best in their children’s actions, fostering empathy and emotional regulation. This approach not only strengthens connections but also equips children with vital coping skills.

Embracing the principle that 'Two Things Are True' empowers you to hold multiple truths simultaneously—like being both firm and loving. This balance enhances communication, builds trust, and creates a resilient family dynamic.

Breaking intergenerational patterns starts with acknowledging your own goodness. By becoming a cycle-breaker, you pave the way for a future where your children feel valued and connected, even in their struggles.

Chapter 03 of 30

Two Things Are True

Set clear boundaries while honoring your child's feelings to build trust and respect.

When conflicts arise, embrace the “two things are true” mindset: your decision and your child's emotions.

Transform power struggles into teamwork by validating each other's perspectives and collaborating on solutions.

Handle rudeness by connecting with your child's underlying emotions, showing them they're good inside.

Believe in your parenting even during tough times, separating your actions from your identity.

Chapter 04 of 30

Know Your Job

Clear roles and responsibilities are the backbone of any system, including your family. As a parent, your mission is to ensure safety through boundaries, validation, and empathy, while your children are explorers, learning and expressing their emotions. Staying in your lane keeps the family engine running smoothly—no one likes a confused system!

Imagine your child's brain as a two-story house: the downstairs is all about intense emotions, and the upstairs handles planning and self-awareness, still under construction well into adulthood. Your role? Be the sturdy staircase that helps your child navigate from emotional chaos to calm decision-making. It's not about shutting down feelings but teaching them to manage them.

Boundaries are your love language. They protect and contain your child’s emotions, showing them that even the wildest feelings can be tamed. Whether it's preventing a tantrum meltdown or keeping scissors out of tiny hands, firm boundaries convey safety and structure.

But boundaries alone aren’t enough. Validation and empathy are the secret ingredients that make these rules stick. Letting your child know their feelings are real and understood builds their emotional resilience. It’s like telling them, “You’re awesome inside, even when things get messy outside.”

When you embrace your role with boundaries, validation, and empathy, you transform challenging moments into opportunities for growth. Reframe those tantrums as your child fulfilling their job to express and explore emotions, not as misbehavior. This perspective shift keeps you grounded and strengthens your parenting game.

Chapter 05 of 30

The Early Years Matter

Why do early parenting years matter? Simply put, they shape the blueprint your child takes into the world. Even if kids can't verbalize their memories from ages zero to three, their bodies remember every interaction, teaching them what's acceptable, shameful, manageable, or overwhelming.

Through attachment theory, we understand that children form different attachments based on their experiences with caregivers. These attachments create an internal working model that influences how they see themselves and interact with others throughout their lives.

For instance, if a parent consistently invalidates a child's feelings, the child learns to associate vulnerability with rejection. Conversely, validating a child's emotions teaches them that it's safe to express and trust their feelings, fostering self-trust and openness.

Dependence and independence aren't opposites—they go hand in hand. When children feel secure in their dependence on a parent, they're more confident to explore and be independent, knowing they have a secure base to return to.

Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) with attachment theory reveals that children view their emotions as parts that either foster connection or push others away. By acknowledging and respecting these parts, we help children build a compassionate and regulated sense of self.

Ultimately, the way we interact with our children in their early years lays the foundation for confident, independent, and emotionally healthy adults. It's the hard work now that pays dividends a lifetime later.