Grab a cup of coffee, let’s chat. Listen, there are a million (billion, trillion?) parenting articles and books out there. Some are fantastic, while others pile on the guilt and flame your anxiety. It's easy to get caught up in the "Should's" and "Should not's" of parenting. But here's the bottom line: You are the expert on your child. … [Read more...]
9 Parenting Truths That Apply To All Children
Parenting advice can get a little murky. If you Google your specific parenting problem, there’s a chance that you’ll find more than one answer. And, there’s a good chance that those answers will slightly (or completely) contradict. Instead of zooming in and searching for the “one” right solution. Let’s look at parenting from a more general … [Read more...]
Simple Self-Care for Extremely Busy Parents
There’s no getting around it, these years are tough. Personal space is limited and your child may literally rely on your help for almost everything! The suggestion to take time for "self-care" may actually make you laugh out loud. (Or cry, depending on the day.) Maybe you’ve tried a few things, but you can’t be consistent. Or, maybe no … [Read more...]
How to Be a Confident Parent Without Yelling at Your Kids
What do the neighbors think? If they only knew the begging, pleading, and negotiating that goes on in your home. Maybe they'd understand why yelling is the ONLY way your kids do what you ask. You've tried being the "nice mom" who doesn't yell, and no matter how hard you tried, it never worked. The only way to get your kids' attention is by … [Read more...]
Learning to Embrace Imperfect Parenting
Thank you to April Finley for this guest post. Read more about her in the bio below! I’m a perfectionist. I remember when that felt like a positive thing: when I was in school, it meant I generally did my best, double-checked my work, and completed my homework moments after it was assigned. While interviewing for jobs, it was my go-to … [Read more...]
How to respond when your child prefers one parent
It's heartbreaking when your child pulls away from you and reaches for another caregiver. Thankfully, there are things you can do to survive this difficult stage. Here are some tips to use when your child prefers one parent over the other (BONUS: suggestions for the "preferred"...and the "non-preferred" parent!) “No! I want daddy to … [Read more...]
When you keep yelling at your kids (but really want to stop)
"Get in bed! NOW!" you scream at the top of your lungs. Any intention of staying calm went right out the window. Along with any amount of patience or rational thinking. Your kids scramble into their beds and you finally have a chance to breathe. It doesn't take long for the guilt to sink in..."There I go again! Yelling! Why can't I just hold … [Read more...]
The most important first step in any “how to” parenting post
A few weeks ago I broke the garbage disposal. On a whim, I checked YouTube. Yep, there was a video titled, "How to fix your garbage disposal." I followed the steps and it was working again in no time. As parents, we are guilty of googling and searching YouTube for a lot more than home repairs. We search for everything...how to potty train, … [Read more...]
5 Things I’ve Learned from My Parent Coaching Clients
We say "good bye" and I close my computer. Once you get comfortable talking with someone via webcam, it can feel like you're sitting in the same room together (Bonus: no one even knows you're still wearing pajama pants!). Online parent coaching has introduced me to an amazing group of parents from around the world. Parents … [Read more...]
5 Questions to Help your Unique Child Thrive
Special thanks to April Finley for guest posting this week! Read more about her in the bio below. My diaper bag was packed according to the list I’d written before I’d given birth; it was well stocked with clean clothes, burp cloths, washcloths, pacifiers, receiving blankets, diapers, and any number of other things I wasn’t likely to need in … [Read more...]