We learn so much through hearing other parents’ stories of finding solutions to challenging situations by changing themselves first. Here is a coaching client’s story about fixing his relationship with his teen son. Sam Determines to Rebuild the Relationship with His Teen Son “I have a tendency to focus so much on work that I…
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Creating a More Peaceful Home You are so precious to me. You are opening your minds and taking steps to create a more peaceful world. Each time you self-reflect and stop yourself from venting at your children, you are creating more love in your family. You are creating a safer place to live. A home…
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Struggling With Daily Power Struggles “I’m a mom of three children ages 7, 5, and 3. So, I contacted Cynthia primarily because of my 5 year-old daughter’s screaming and my screaming in return. I wanted to learn how to discipline my children more effectively so my kids would cooperate. I also wanted a much better…
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Why Punishment Doesn’t Work Here’s the uncomfortable truth. Since the beginning of raising children, the punishment model has been the norm. Punishment strategies are based on controlling children through threats, intimidation, rewards, shaming, etc. In other words, trying to control them by judging them as being either good or bad. Worthy or unworthy. Lovable or unlovable. …
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The Boom in Parenting Advice The parenting advice business is booming. That’s why there are thousands of parenting books, classes, and self-directed courses to choose from. With all of this available wisdom, why are parents still struggling, especially with getting kids to do what they don’t want to do? There are several reasons, yet I’m…
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Understanding How Teens Use Their Cell Phones When we discuss our concerns about how much tweens and teens are using cell phones, it’s also important to consider how they are using them. Research on Teens and Screen Time The Harvard Graduate School of Education has a very informative podcast/article about the results of a recent…
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Why Parents Struggle With This Question Have you ever been confused about when to give advice to your child/tween/teen and when to let them make a decision? If so, you are not alone. Every parent grapples with this question. New School Situations Create New Challenges School is starting soon, which means there will be new…
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The Realities of Parenting as a Couple I’ve been thinking about all of the parenting challenges that couples confront on a daily basis. Wow! Some of you have a partner who wants to learn new parenting skills with you, and some do not. In fact, there seems to still be a stigma around men, in…
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Where Worthiness Begins You may be surprised that I’m referencing Jamie Kern Lima’s book Worthy. I believe that whether we feel worthy or not has so much to do with the message we heard growing up. And, the messages from your family that you are unworthy will often continue into adulthood. I know from listening…
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Moving Beyond “Right” and “Wrong” I love helping couples find a path to parent together. Every couple starts with different viewpoints on how to parent based on how they were raised. Therefore, there is often conflict on how to approach each challenge they encounter. I believe it’s important to not judge your parenting approach as…
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.