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communication | sibling rivalry | discipline | emotions | positive parenting
You’re SO tired of reminding your daughter to feed the dog. Every day. The reminders. The nagging. The same argument. And, to make matters worse, you usually end up feeding the dog! You wish she would just take some responsibility; figure out a way to remember. To just do it
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Sitting with a teenage client and her family in my therapy office, she declares: “My parents just don’t understand!” Digging a little deeper, I ask, “What would help you feel like they understood you?” She snaps back, “If they would just listen to me!” On the defense, her mom responds,
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There was a time when parents were told to praise their child’s every move as a way of building their self-esteem. Not knowing exactly how to do this, many parents resorted to the phrase “good job.” This generic phrase has long lost its motivating incentive. Unfortunately, many parents and teachers
Continue ReadingSome kids squeal with excitement about of the start of the new school year – new backpacks, sharp crayons, picking out the first day of school outfit. Other kids refuse to admit that the day is coming, they choose to soak up every last drop of summer before turning their
Continue ReadingDo you find yourself making threats, inflicting punishments, or screaming in anger? Do you feel overwhelmed, tired or stressed, and unsure how to handle your anger differently? Do you feel like a horrible parent? You are not alone. Many parents struggle to control their anger. If you
Continue ReadingSchool’s out! Hooray for summer vacation…or maybe not. Let’s face it, summer break may be full of fun family activities, but it may also mean more arguing, less compliance with chores, and those dreaded words: “I’m Bored!” Before you start counting the days until school starts again, check
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Sometimes, it’s the simplest words that are the most important. “I’m going to throw up.” “The kitchen is on fire.” “Mom, can we talk?” They are important, significant, meaningful words. While you would probably immediately respond to the first two statements, the third is often overlooked, minimized, or ignored. You
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You heard the smack from the kitchen. Followed by wailing. Entering the room, you demand, “Tell your sister you’re sorry.” “Soorrry.” It reeks with sarcasm. “Say ‘sorry’ like you mean it,” you prompt again. “I’m not sorry!” he yells back. What?! How dare he say that. Teaching your child to
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Once again, your child is refusing to go to bed because there might be a spider in their room. You’ve checked every corner of the room – no spiders. You’ve reassured him that there probably won’t be a spider. Finally, you run out of options and allow him to sleep
Continue Reading“I don’t like broccoli.” “Come on, try it…” “No way, you can’t make me eat peas.” “You might like it.” “I want chicken nuggets.” “You can have a cookie if you try this first.” Mealtime with a selective (otherwise know as “picky”) eater can be exhausting. The dinner-time dance
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