Parents can easily get stuck feeling frustrated with their child’s behavior and think their child will never change. Finding themselves thinking that their child is a little too selfish a little too often, uncooperative, careless, out of control, or too emotional…leading to fear that they will always be this way. Good news! Your child is…
Managing the ups and downs of how we feel about ourselves is one of, if not the biggest of our many daily challenges. We are emotional beings and to downplay this fact causes humanity great suffering. So, what do you say when your child says they don’t like themselves, they hate themselves, or they are…
Summer is a time of decreased stress, i.e. no homework, which can mean less conflict and more time and opportunity to build closer relationships within your family. Here are three ways to start building family closeness right away. Be bold and establish a “No electronics” time for the entire family. This rule applies to everyone…
Listening to Your Kids’ Struggles Without Your Stress Getting in the Way From my experience of teaching and coaching hundreds of parents plus raising my own daughter, learning how to listen and build connection is the foundation to harmonious home. This blog post is the workshop style handout I used to guide the parents who…
One thing that both children and parents experience alike, is fear. A main challenge I hear from parents is how to listen to their fearful child without their own fears preventing them from being the supportive parent their child needs. Fear Is Normal To begin the process of guiding your child through fear, be aware…
I was the youngest of three kids and the only girl in my family. What I remember most from my childhood is saying, “Mommy, Peter’s picking on me!” One time, I got so angry with my older brother that I chased him with a pair of scissors and stabbed his bedroom door as he slammed…
I’m a divorced mom of a 9 year-old daughter and 7 year-old son. I contacted Cynthia for private parenting coaching due to challenges with my 9-year-old daughter. My daughter often complained about her younger brother and needed constant validation that I loved her just as much as her brother. She would frequently get upset, say…
Effective team parenting is a key ingredient for a happy relationship between two parents… Remember, you both love your children and you both want the best for them. Stress and conflict arise, though, when you have different views on what raising them looks like and how to best accomplish this goal. It’s important to learn…
When your child isn’t talking with you about their challenges, it’s time to reflect on what you are saying that is contributing to their silence. They aren’t trusting you enough to share with you. Rather than trying to get them to open up with questions, which feels like an interrogation, learn about the Supporter Parenting…
“I do so much for my children and they just don’t appreciate it. They think only about themselves. Sometimes, I feel like I’m here simply to give them what they want. Why don’t they think about me?” It’s developmentally appropriate for young children to think only of their needs. As their brain develops, they begin…
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.