Anxiety can plague children no matter what age they are. Several of my client’s children struggle with anxiety stemming from fears of what might happen. This can lead to rigidity and resistance to change even though they will enjoy the next activity. Anxiety is complicated, and it is real. I recently saw the movie Angst:…
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…
By Corey, Mom of 7 and 9 year olds. My daughter, Beth, is 9 and very strong-willed which can lead to intense emotional outbursts. I tend to try and take away her hurt feelings. I’m going through a divorce and my Child’s Advocate has advised me to stop doing this because it isn’t helping my…
Parents become very frustrated and worried when their children no longer share their thoughts, feelings, or events in their lives. A wall develops and yet it can be melted. The length of time required to melt the wall depends on how deep the divide between parent and child has become. The good news is that…
Keeping Lines of Communication Open Practice Lines of communication can be opened or closed depending on the listener’s response to the speaker. When we listen beyond the words to the feelings and thoughts the speaker may be trying to express, we can build a bridge of empathy that feels respectful and supportive to the speaker.…
I think Elaine Aron’s book is wonderful and I encourage you to buy it if you have a highly sensitive child. Her questionnaire below will help you decide. By Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D. author of the highly sensitive child – Helping our children thrive when the world overwhelms them. Please answer each question as best…
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…
In the summer issue of Parenting on the Peninsula magazine, my article, The Art of Listening Openly, is published. Most parents just don’t know how to listen without giving advice, commanding, placating, interrogating, distracting and other communication blocks. I invite you to read the entire article. Here is a beginning teaser: Children’s emotions can often surge…
I’m a mom of an 11-year-old girl. Because of parenting challenges, I came to Cynthia for private parenting help to learn how to reduce my daughter’s jealousy of family members, to understand each other better, and to eliminate rude interactions. Even though, this is a lot to change, I was determined to learn what to…
Stress is not all bad. Eustress is positive whereas distress is negative. Eustress, or positive stress, has the following characteristics: Motivates, focuses energy. Is short-term. Is perceived as within our coping abilities. Feels exciting. Improves performance. In contrast, Distress, or negative stress, has the following characteristics: Causes anxiety or concern. Can be short- or long-term. Is…