Do you have a child who ignores you when you give directions, or argues with you like an attorney trying to change your mind, or refuses to talk to you other than with a few words or grunts? If you do, then Ally Parenting – The path from conflict to cooperation is for you. Each…
The mother-daughter relationship is particularly challenging because both sides desire and value emotional connection, whether it’s negative or positive. Because of this deep desire, when circumstances erode the emotional connection, both parties feel hurt and can resort to unhelpful language and actions that further the divide. However, even after a wall has developed, I have…
Do you face any of these painful parent-child walls with your children? Do your kids… Ignore you? Argue with you? Refuse to share with you? If this sounds familiar, then Ally Parenting: How to get through walls…gently is the tool you need. Through the Ally Parenting approach, you will master the parenting skills, wisdom, and…
Finding solutions can be challenging. Maybe you don’t know how to start the process, or your children won’t respond, or even if you do develop a plan, their enthusiasm wanes quickly, and you’re left feeling discouraged. You can successfully solve problems together when you pick a challenge or request that both of you have an…
Parents struggle with setting limits on video game playing to the point of feeling powerless. It can feel like the video game companies are controlling your children. However, you have more power than you think to keep video gaming obsession out of your home. Whereas drug and alcohol use often begins during the teen years…
Dad Successfully Implements Empathy Coaching (as instructed by me, Cynthia Klein) to Set Limits and Boundaries The following real life coaching scenario from June of 2016 involves a dad, Ben, learning how to set limits and boundaries with his strong-willed nine-year-old daughter, Julia. Don’t be concerned, all names have been changed to protect confidentiality.…
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. There are many situations where parents need to…
In my experience as a parenting educator and coach, parents who struggle with finding discipline solutions are often approaching their kids from a controlling perspective. They come to me because they have tried every tactic they know to get their kids to comply and they still aren’t successful. They are hoping there is one more…
Knowing how to successfully support your struggling child is a valuable skill you will use throughout your lifetime. Regardless of their age, you will be a parent whom your children will come to when under duress or making decisions. I believe we can build the greatest connections, sense of security, and thus joy with our…
When kids don’t cooperate with you, it’s easy to take it personally as though they are against you. I call this response the “parent’s victim mentality.” When you see yourself as a victim, you think your kids are acting against you-that you are the target of their behavior. You may think, “They are being disrespectful…
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.