“The pace of life and daily demands make us forget that, above all, we are parents.”

Mellow Parenting – rediscovering the mother–child bond

The pace of life and daily demands sometimes make us forget that, above all, we are parents.

The “Mellow Parenting” educational program for parents was piloted in Moldova in 2016, in five districts: Cahul, Călărași, Fălești, Nisporeni, and Ungheni. With support from the European Union, AO “Partnerships for Every Child” together with the Mellow Parenting organization from Scotland trained and accredited 10 practitioners to deliver the program. To date, approximately 100 mothers and 100 children have benefited from it. Evaluations have shown that mothers become more self-confident, patient, open, and communicative, while experiencing fewer depressive symptoms and improving their relationship with their child. They learn to manage their emotions, prioritize their activities, and dedicate more time to their children, understanding that a child’s needs go beyond food and sleep to include affection and attention.

Ana’s story

Ana (name changed) has two children: one aged 11 and one aged 5. She attended the program with her younger son, who needed more interaction with peers. Through the program, Ana rediscovered what it means to be a woman, a wife, and a mother. “By sharing my experiences as a mother, I was always listened to and supported by the other mothers in the group. This made me more open, more confident, and more willing to socialize. But most importantly, I learned what a healthy mother–child relationship should be like.”

Ana believes the program is also invaluable for women preparing for motherhood, helping them reduce stress and navigate the initial challenges of becoming a parent. “The pace of life, work, and children’s demands often make us forget that we must provide not only material needs but also love and affection. Even my husband wanted to participate, seeing the positive changes in me.”

For Ana, Mellow Parenting represents the core of a family: a safe and warm space where everyone understands and supports you, where you can open your heart, overcome fear of being vulnerable with strangers, and make lifelong friends.

How the program works

The “Mellow Parenting” program supports parents in developing parenting skills at different stages of a child’s growth, based on the principles of attachment, social learning, and cognitive-behavioral theory. The program includes 14 group sessions for parents with children aged 0–5 years, during which parents learn about child development, how to build a healthy attachment, and how to contribute to the harmonious development of both the child and their relationship. Activities involve parallel participation of both parents and children.

The program is one of four implemented under the project “Increasing Access for Children with Special Needs to Community Support and Early Childhood Education Services,” carried out by P4EC in partnership with Mellow Parenting and HealthProm from the UK, with support from relevant ministries and local public administrations in the participating districts. The project, with a total value of €680,000, is funded by the European Union.

Additionally, the program is being implemented in three other regions—Orhei, Sîngerei, and Soroca—under the “Mellow Parenting” development project, funded by the World Childhood Foundation.