July 4th is Independence Day in the U.S.—but if you’re raising a tween or teen, every day can feel like an Independence Day struggle. Does this sound familiar? “Everyone else gets to…” “Why are you so worried? Nothing bad is going to happen.” “I’m going to go anyway, so you might as well drive me.”…
Struggling With Daily Power Struggles “I’m a mom of three children ages 7, 5, and 3. So, I contacted Cynthia primarily because of my 5 year-old daughter’s screaming and my screaming in return. I wanted to learn how to discipline my children more effectively so my kids would cooperate. I also wanted a much better…
The Boom in Parenting Advice The parenting advice business is booming. That’s why there are thousands of parenting books, classes, and self-directed courses to choose from. With all of this available wisdom, why are parents still struggling, especially with getting kids to do what they don’t want to do? There are several reasons, yet I’m…
Understanding How Teens Use Their Cell Phones When we discuss our concerns about how much tweens and teens are using cell phones, it’s also important to consider how they are using them. Research on Teens and Screen Time The Harvard Graduate School of Education has a very informative podcast/article about the results of a recent…
The Realities of Parenting as a Couple I’ve been thinking about all of the parenting challenges that couples confront on a daily basis. Wow! Some of you have a partner who wants to learn new parenting skills with you, and some do not. In fact, there seems to still be a stigma around men, in…
Where Worthiness Begins You may be surprised that I’m referencing Jamie Kern Lima’s book Worthy. I believe that whether we feel worthy or not has so much to do with the message we heard growing up. And, the messages from your family that you are unworthy will often continue into adulthood. I know from listening…
Moving Beyond “Right” and “Wrong” I love helping couples find a path to parent together. Every couple starts with different viewpoints on how to parent based on how they were raised. Therefore, there is often conflict on how to approach each challenge they encounter. I believe it’s important to not judge your parenting approach as…
The Power of Collaborative Discussions Learning how to have collaborative discussions in your family is crucial to teaching your children responsibility, how to be flexible, and how to share their ideas and listen to others amongst other important life skills. It is often challenging to understand when it’s appropriate to discuss and plan together, when…
Navigating the digital landscape with teenagers can feel like a constant battle, especially when interactive entertainment begins to overshadow daily life. Many parents find that setting video game limits is one of the most challenging aspects of modern parenting, often met with intense resistance or withdrawal. However, establishing these boundaries is not about restriction for…
How to Get Kids to Listen Through Connection For Ally Parenting strategies to work, children need to feel connected to the adult giving a directive. It isn’t enough for you to just learn, for example, the after-then strategy, to win cooperation. There needs to be a balance between focusing on nurturing and structuring the relationship.…
Terms of Use: The articles in my blog are a matter of my opinion and perspective, offered to help stimulate parents' thinking about their child raising and common concerns, conflicts, and changes that typically occur. They are meant to be educational only. Because they are general in nature, they should NOT be used as a substitute for getting qualified professional psychological, medical, or legal help should serious need arise. The resources I recommend are mostly consistent with my parenting approach. Use them at your own discretion as you would my articles. The parents’ success stories are particular to their family situation. This does not mean that you would get the same results. They are to be used for inspiration that by you changing first, you have the greatest chance of creating a positive change in your family.