You close the door as hot tears stream down your face. Slumping to the floor, head in your hands, the scene replays in your mind. The power struggle. The yelling. The numerous attempts to interrupt the chaos with empathy and reasoning. Nothing worked. Where did things go wrong? What are you missing? Why is parenting so hard? You're … [Read more...]
How to help your anxious child: a guide for parents
The bedtime battles. The doctor's office meltdowns. The tears. Parenting a child with anxiety can be hard. You wish you could wave a magic wand and make all of their worries disappear. There is hope! Use these posts to help you parent your child through their worries, teach a variety of coping skills, and explore your own … [Read more...]
The Day I Forgot How to Parent (And the Two Words that Brought Me Back)
Our words went back and forth like ping-pong balls. She said something rude. I replied with the same snippy tone. She tried to hit me and kick me. I just moved away and tried to ignore her. This is not how I usually parent. Somewhere along the line, I slipped back into the world of punishment, threats, and isolation. Positive … [Read more...]
Beyond “Settle Down”: Coping Skills for your Angry Child
It's been a walking-on-eggshells kind of day. "That's my decision," you say cautiously. "No more snacks before bed." You pause, waiting. And, just as expected, your child flies into a fit of rage. "That's not fair!" He yells, slamming his fist on the table. "I'm still hungry!" The yelling doesn't stop. "Settle down!" You yell … [Read more...]
What to do when your child refuses timeout
You gave him a warning. If he threw the crayons on the floor again, he would be in timeout. And...he did it anyway. So, into timeout he goes. Or, at least that's what should happen. Instead, you find yourself in a wrestling match. Grabbing him out of the chair, trying to drag him to the timeout area. He's not going without a fight. … [Read more...]
Just Tell Me What to Do: A Guide for Parents
Why do the meltdowns always happen at night? I'm exhausted. I'm off the clock. I'm done with this parenting gig for today. Don't my kids know that? All I want to do is stare mindlessly TV. And I'm not talking about Daniel Tiger or Ninjago. My child is screaming. I know I need to do something, but my mind is blank. I'm about to scream back, … [Read more...]
Beyond “Take a Deep Breath”: Help for the Angry Parent
You did it again. You lost your temper with your kids. You yelled. You criticized. No matter how hard you try, you keep falling back into these bad habits. You don't want to be an angry parent, but in the moment...it just happens. You've heard all about learning your triggers. And you know it's important. But you need … [Read more...]
I’m Feeling Guilty for Yelling at My Child! 5 things you need to do now
Yelling is not the end of the story. You are not defined by the fact that you lost your cool. Next time you're feeling guilty for yelling at your child, take a deep breath. Then, follow these steps to move in a positive direction. You just yelled at your kids. And I mean, yelled. Despite your best efforts at calm, peaceful parenting, you … [Read more...]
Teaching Your Impulsive Child to “Pause”
All kids are impulsive. They hit, bite, kick and yell without thinking through the consequences. They feel a feeling and act on it. We can blow this off as "kids will be kids" or send them to the corner until they "learn their lesson." Or, we can introduce our kids to the PAUSE. Your Child's Brain Research shows that your child's brain is … [Read more...]
Taking Control of Your Parenting Triggers
Tired of always yelling at your kids? Feel like you are calm one moment and then angry the next? Your first thought may be..." if only they would just listen the first time, I wouldn't have to yell!" or "If he would just stop hitting his sister, I wouldn't have to get so angry!" There are tons of techniques that may help your child act … [Read more...]