Studies have shown that people who feel appreciation have greater joy in their life. Imagine how happy your family will be when each member appreciates each other. Imagine less criticism and more connection, caring and cooperation. To make these changes, think of your family as a garden where you plant the seeds of appreciation, weed…
Parenting for the 21st Century – Building Close Family Connections and Happy, Confident, Caring Kids (2 – 6 years) What does every parent want? A happy, healthy, confident kid! And research shows that kids who can handle their emotions and “bounce back” from upsetting moments actually do better in life. Since feelings fuel behaviors…
It takes courage to listen. It takes courage to become close to your children. We have to become vulnerable and feel our feelings. We also feel our children’s feelings. Most parents can’t listen to their children’s sufferings. It triggers their own deep suffering that has been lingering in their emotional limbic system for a long…
1. Stop whatever you are about to say or do with anger. It will not be effective! 2. Take time to release your own limbic system in a safe way. a. Call a listening partner or a friend to just listen. b. Check in with yourself. What are you really feeling behind the anger? What…
This is an excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda’s book A Piece of Mirror and Other Essays. The essay is titled Fatherhood. page 50 There are many ways to keep communication flowing, as the example of Indira Gandhi, and her father, Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, shows. He was jailed nine times during the Indian struggle…
Imagine that it is early morning and you are trying to get your 5 year-old out the door. As she puts her socks on she suddenly cries out, “These are too itchy! I don’t like these socks.” Or maybe your son cries out, “This tag is poking me.” How do you respond either in your…
A True Parenting Success Story As a mother of two strong willed girls, ages 7 and 10, I thought I was helping my daughters to become better people and more responsible by trying to control them and by telling them what they should be doing. We were all frustrated with one another. Little did I…
Parenting is an opportunity for personal growth. Self reflection helps us be gentle with ourselves and forgiving. When your children “misbehave” they still love you. Please do not equate love with obedience. Children coming into our world love when loved yet they do not necessarily believe that pleasing their parents is a form of love.…
Teens are at the developmental stage where their life focus is moving away from their family of origin to creating their own family in the future. Their prefrontal cortex, their thinking and analyzing brain, won’t be fully developed until the mid-20’s. So, as parents, we watch this process with often feelings of concern, fear, and…
Children need to first know they are loved and accepted for who they are. Then, with this as a base, their natural impulse is to take that love and learn to contribute it to the world in constructive ways. Self-esteem is the best gift you can give your child. Below are example qualities of a…
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.