Is your child stuck in the "I'm a bad kid" cycle? Caregivers can reduce the effects of shame, using these phrases to remind your child that they are seen, known, and loved. Shame is a powerful force. It sends the message that you are not worthy of love. It tells us we should hide our true selves because people would reject us if we … [Read more...]
25 Alternatives to Timeouts, Grounding, and Taking Things Away
Change the way you think about discipline! These 25 parenting tips focus on positive, respectful, age-appropriate alternatives. When it comes to discipline, it's easy to feel stuck. We're told to use timeouts, grounding, bribes, taking things away, and even spanking, but nothing seems to make a difference. Maybe we've been … [Read more...]
A Reintroduction: Nicole Schwarz, Parent Coach
Celebrating 10 years of positive, respectful parenting strategies at ImperfectFamilies.com and looking forward to the next adventure. Welcome to Imperfect Families! I’m Nicole Schwarz, Parent Coach, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and mom to 3 girls. I did not start out using positive, respectful parenting … [Read more...]
How to banish the word “should” from your parenting vocabulary
The words "should" and "should not" add unnecessary guilt and shame to our parenting. Use these tips to parent in a way that moves you in a positive direction. Sitting on the couch, scrolling social media, you sigh. Thoughts swirl through your head as you peek into the carefully curated accounts online, "I should get organized." And, "I … [Read more...]
Try this “Magic Ratio” With Your Kids Today
Is the communication in your home full of complaints, arguments, and whining? Chances are the "magic ratio" is off. Use these tips to bring some peace and calm to your family. After another extremely frustrating day battling his son about everything from screentime to bedtime, a parent sat down with me for a parent coaching session. During … [Read more...]
Waiting for Emotional Maturity: A Reminder for Parents
Feeling frustrated because your child seems "too old" for certain behavior? This post will encourage you as you wait for them to mature emotionally. Thank you to April Finley for this guest post. Read more about her in the bio below! When my firstborn was between five and six years old, I felt pressured to teach him to read. We homeschool, … [Read more...]
Overcoming the Pressure to Produce a Good Human
We all want to raise children who are well-behaved, thoughtful, and intelligent, but sometimes we miss the fact that we're already raising a good human. All eyes are on you. The room is silent. Embarrassment floods your body. You want to grab your child and run out the door - hoping everyone will forget the rude thing he just … [Read more...]
The Power of Perseverance in Parenting
Child development is a slow process. It's not easy to parent through difficult stages and phases. Unfortunately, you cannot rush maturity. In parenting, there's power in perseverance. The other day, I ordered something online and it was delivered less than 24 hours later. What?! I mean, I like fast shipping, but this felt a little too … [Read more...]
How to make an effective parenting resolution (Any Time of the Year)
Good parents look for ways to grow and improve their parenting any time of the year. Use this tip to make an effective resolution - even if it's not New Year's Eve. The pressure to make parenting resolutions usually comes around January 1st each year. But, the decision to make a big change in your parenting can also come on March 13th, … [Read more...]
3 things that matter more than your child’s obedience
We all want kids who obey (preferably with a cheerful attitude). When that doesn't happen, we panic. What if, we took obedience off its pedestal and focused on laying a strong foundation instead? Here are three things that matter more than your child's obedience. A child’s obedience is like the gold standard in parenting. When a child … [Read more...]
