I sat in the room with my daughter as she screamed. She was WAY overtired and beyond comforting. I scanned my brain for any tidbit of parenting advice that I'd forgotten. Any other way to get through to her in that moment. Only one word came to mind: Persevere. Really? Persevere is not my favorite word, and I bet you don't … [Read more...]
How to Help Your Cautious Child Feel Confident
*This post is part of the Raising Resilient Children series, which features advice from Mental Health Professionals. Find tips for helping your children remain strong through life's challenges, manage anxiety and overcome stress. Rose and Katie are playing on the swing set. Rose runs up the slide and stands confidently … [Read more...]
Positive Parenting isn’t Perfect Parenting and that’s OK
Check out my latest post on Positive Parenting Connection: As a mom to three girls and as a child therapist, I've read piles of parenting books. My parenting philosophy has changed dramatically over the years. When I landed in the realm of "Positive Parenting," I was hooked. I knew instinctively this was how I wanted to parent. Unfortunately, … [Read more...]
When to praise your child (and when to skip it)
There's old parenting advice that tells us to give attention and praise when our kids do something good. Unfortunately, going overboard with "Good Job" may be making things worse, rather than better. Learn why it's OK not to praise your child for every.little.thing. My kids love to color. They can spend hours creating detailed pictures of … [Read more...]
Showing Your Child Support with Silence
Out of the blue, my daughter announced: "Ashlyn and Tyler don't talk to me on the bus." Shocked and caught off guard, I accidentally made a great parenting decision: I didn't say anything. She continued, "I know I'm quiet. Maybe they don't hear me talk, but I feel left out." I glanced her way to let her know I was listening but stayed … [Read more...]
How to Be a Flexible Parent
Heading out the door to school, I noticed my daughter didn't have her backpack. Rather than have her dawdle in the house, I volunteered to go in and get it. As I was returning to the car, I stopped, "What am I doing? How will she ever learn to remember her backpack if I rescue her like this? She's supposed to be responsible for her own … [Read more...]
Finding the Positive in Your Parenting (even if you’re discouraged)
You yell too much. You worry constantly. You want everyone to sleep in their own bed, but you're just too tired to fight it. When it comes to making changes to your parenting, it's not hard to find things that need work. But, there are tons of things that don't need fixing at all! Your lopsided pancakes. The silly … [Read more...]
How to Ask Simple Open Ended Questions Kids Really Want to Answer
This list of 45 open ended questions for kids will fill those awkward silences and eliminate one-word answers to keep your family talking! Car rides sure can be awkward. Your son is in the seat next to you, eyes glued to his phone. You try to make conversation... "So, your baseball game went well on Saturday." Silence. "Your team … [Read more...]
31 Affirmations for Moms
"I'm a failure." "I can't do it perfectly." "I'm ruining my kids." "I can't stop worrying." "What if..." "Why can't I be more like..." Why can't my kids be more like..." The messages that replay in the mind of a mom are anything but positive. And in a thankless job like motherhood, compliments from others are often few and far … [Read more...]
Say this, Not that: A Parent’s Guide
Are you tired of being ignored? Feeling frustrated that your kids respond to you with grunts and "I don't know?" Sometimes, the way we phrase things can make a big difference. It's not always easy to remember what to say or how to say it, especially when your child is in the middle of a meltdown. So, here's a quick reference … [Read more...]