Sunday I had a wonderful conversation with my 34-year-old daughter about childrearing because it’s a topic her friends with children discuss. She was expressing concern about a popular style that she felt was too lax when it came to setting expectations and saying “No” to kids. I chuckled when I reminded her that…
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Does your childhood impact your parenting? Are you noticing that you sound at times like your parents did with you? Many dads and moms I’ve talked to over the past 29 years are trying to parent in a different way than how they were parented. If, on the other hand, you want to repeat…
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I received a fantastic email from a mom, Susan, whom I recently taught how to parent her high-spirited 8-year-old daughter more successfully. I asked her, “ May I share your experience so I can inspire other parents?” Susan’s response was, “Of course! Anything that can help others realize the methods work, the better.” …
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Raising children has its wonderful aspects and its challenges. One key challenge is finding the time. Time for taking kids to sports, cooking, cleaning, working, enforcing rules, personal care, reading, hugging, and getting homework done to name only a few. Your time is precious. One question to consider is how much time do you…
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My articles are full of pieces of parenting advice. I say “pieces” because solving parenting challenges involves more than one “quick tip”. The solution-finding process is like a puzzle with a framework, the border pieces, that give structure to the process. The structure I provide is the Family Harmony Formula. What you’ll find is…
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It’s common to get overwhelmed and feel stuck when you have a child who challenges your current parenting skills. Perhaps you’re trying to leave the house on time, get your child to bed, or effectively say ”No” to a request. In response maybe, like Silvia, you have a child who argues, yells, and gets very…
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When my daughter was young, I knew she had a mind of her own. She wasn’t going to do things to please me. I know that some parents use the “this would help me” approach to getting kids to follow directions. It may work when some kids are young yet it will quickly fade as…
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Were you listened to by an adult when you were young? Most of us weren’t because our parents weren’t listened to when they were young. And so the cycle of disconnection continues. But, it can stop with you! You can learn the communication skills and understanding that allowing children to talk about their ideas…
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Are you amongst the many parents who grapple with getting kids to do chores or comply with directions? I talk about this problem often because it’s so common for parents to resort to using hurtful words. The strategy of “scolding” kids is a form of punishment based on the concept that when you make kids/teens…
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As I was coaching Beth, a mom of a 15-year-old daughter, I heard her amazing success story that I just had to relate to you today. Beth found my book, Ally Parenting, online, read it, loved it, and contacted me for coaching on how to melt the wall that had developed between herself and…
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.