You think he’s too soft on the kids. He thinks you put too much pressure on them. You think he’s too strict about homework. He thinks you baby them at bedtime. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. In the middle of a stressful parenting situation, when the stakes are highest, the conversation often shifts from the kids to the other … [Read more...]
What to do when your child refuses to take a shower.
I’m not sure you saw the memo. I’m pretty sure it is delivered to all kids somewhere around age 9. Just in case you missed it, I’ll summarize: "Showers are bad. Stay dirty. Resist!" Yep. The child who could spend hours in the bathtub suddenly has a lack of affection for water. And it’s starting to stink. Addressing Shower … [Read more...]
5 Ways Christians can Embrace Positive Parenting (and Spare the Rod)
For years, I have resisted the label of “Christian” therapist or parent coach. Even though my degree is from a Christian Seminary, the connotation never felt right to me. I felt lumped in with other “Christian” authors and experts who encouraged parents to spank, ignore, ground, and punish their kids. Until now, it was easier to drop the … [Read more...]
How to teach ungrateful kids to be thankful after fun activities
Tired of hearing complaining and whining from your kids when you leave a fun activity? Whether it's Disney World or a trip to Target, these tips will ease the transition and help you teach ungrateful kids to appreciate the things you do as a family. It’s been a long day at the amusement park. Hot weather. Long lines. Way too much … [Read more...]
16 simple positive parenting tips for your 3 year old
Tired of the power struggles and battles over everything? Unsure how to discipline your toddler without using timeouts? Use these 16 simple reminders to bring the joy back to parenting your 3-year-old! Some say the 2’s are terrible. But for many parents, it’s the 3’s that really challenge a parent’s ability to stay cool under … [Read more...]
Easy Daily Practices to Show Love to Your Imperfect Self
Hey imperfect parent! When was the last time you truly embraced a mistake? Smiled when an old habit poped-up? Or shook off a bad mood? (Maybe never.) We have a tendency to hold ourselves to a ridiculously high standard: Perfection. Every moment we mess up is evidence that we are missing the mark. What if we flipped this script? … [Read more...]
Helping your child self-regulate during the holidays
I feel like there should be a warning for all parents around mid-November that reads: Caution. Self-regulation may be limited. As the season's shift and the store shelves begin to burst with the latest toys and flashy gadgets, kids dream of candy, Santa, and getting gifts for doing absolutely nothing. That’s a lot of excitement to … [Read more...]
Catch your child lying? 8 Tips That Will Promote Honesty
Tired of your child lying, your kids stretching the truth, or hearing them make up stories you know aren't even close to accurate? It's natural to want a tried-and-true consequence that will end lying forever. But, there's usually more to the behavior than just the lies, use these tips to promote a life-long attitude of honesty in your … [Read more...]
The best way to deal with an argumentative child
The daily battles and the power struggles are getting old. Why can't you just ask them to do something without hearing complaints and groans? Learn how to deal with an argumentative child using positive, respectful strategies that will bring peace back to home. “Please hang up your backpack” seems like such a simple request. Most days, it … [Read more...]
5 reasons you still yell at your kids (and what to do instead)
You've tried everything to get off the crazy train of yelling. Or blaming. Or threatening. Or criticizing your kids. No matter how many "good days" you have, eventually fall back into old patterns again. And then you feel horrible. Your intentions are excellent, but something still seems to be getting in the way of kicking this habit. … [Read more...]
