Here is a story from a dad, whom I worked with, who struggled with getting his 8 year-old daughter up in the morning. I have struggled like many dads with getting my 8 year-old daughter up and to school on time. I took a parenting class and private coaching with Cynthia and started making morning changes…
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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…
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The first step in creating your family’s electronics use guidelines is to start a family discussion about your family’s current electronics use. This discussion should include children talking about parents’ use of electronics as well as parents talking about children’s. The purpose of the discussion and resulting guidelines is to create greater family harmony, cooperation,…
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I hear over and over about how difficult it is for parents to set limits on teens playing video games. Teenagers feel entitled to play video games whenever they want to. They believe that parents do not have authority to set rules about video game usage. They complain that their parents are “nagging” them and…
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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…
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This is a blog written by Denise Pope, , PhD. Co founder of Challenge Success located on the Stanford University Campus in the Education Department. This year I had the honor of speaking to students and their families at a high school graduation ceremony. Below is an excerpt from my speech that I wish to share…
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Setting clear expectations with a strong-willed child can be challenging. When they’re young, they have big tantrums that parents often want to avoid. This desire to avoid tantrums creates a pattern of parents giving in to appease the tantrum rather than remaining firm and implementing the clear, strong limit the child needs. The following…
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“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?” If you’re thinking this way, there’s a good chance you have not set clear personal boundaries. Personal boundaries…
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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…
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I’m a divorced dad with two boys ages 9 and 11. My youngest son has challenges with transitions and wanting his own way. This causes power struggles with getting him out of bed. I came to Cynthia for help with his defiant behavior. Cynthia’s been teaching me how to state an expectation or limit on…
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