Each sibling conflict gives us an opportunity to either teach our children or to try to control our children. It’s not uncommon for kids to try and “make” the parent be the judge when there is a conflict and to take their side. It’s essential to not do this because your children will feel…
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Do you have a pretty good relationship with your kids? If you counted the amount of time that feels good and connected versus the amount of time that feels stressful and disconnected how would the scale look? Would it be balanced or more time spent feeling stressed out, on eggshells, or in outright conflict? …
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If you are struggling with what words will best support your children’s growth, you are not alone. They are individuals who have a mind of their own. We can’t mold them and that can be frustrating especially when we see them taking a course that you don’t think is best for them. I…
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Have you had visions of what you want your relationship to look, sound, and feel like when your children are grown? These visions, or goals, can be very helpful in figuring out how to parent now so you can achieve the parent-adult goal of your dreams. Here are 3 helpful steps to guide you…
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To win cooperation from strong-willed children, focus on not being adversarial, pleading, or fearful of resistance. These types of responses feel disrespectful or weak which diminishes your authority and often opens the door to power struggles. Avoid these common responses. Answering your kid’s “why?” when they already know the answer. You’ll end up defending…
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Are you being “forced” to judge sibling conflicts? As difficult as they are, each sibling conflict gives us an opportunity to either teach our children or to try to control our children. When we use discipline parenting strategies we are approaching the conflict as a teachable moment; an opportunity for our children to…
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The Supporter Parenting Role: The “Boredom Problem” Example Child: “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.” Potential parent responses: “What do you mean you’re bored and there’s nothing to do? You can help me fold the laundry, play with your sister, or read.” “I buy you all of these toys, and you just ignore…
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If you feel that you have let your kids, teens, or tweens have more power than they should in certain areas, you are not alone! The big challenge then becomes how to pull back their power once they “taste” power and they don’t want to give it up! This could happen with problems such…
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In my survey about the top challenges you are experiencing during the summer, the #1 challenge is trying to get kids off mobile devices! I’m not surprised. So, you are asking, “How do I get my kid/teen off screens? Nothing is working.” Whenever someone asks me a “how do I …” question, my…
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If you have ever felt or said, “You’re manipulating me!”, you are not alone. It’s’ a familiar feeling and in a way, true. Your children are masters at manipulating you! Children learn at an early age what to say and do to get what they want. It’s a human drive to fulfill our needs…
DetailsTerms 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.