Sitting with a teenage client and her family in my therapy office, she declares: "My parents just don't understand!" Digging a little deeper, I ask, "What would help you feel like they understood you?" She snaps back, "If they would just listen to me!" On the defense, her mom responds, "What do you mean?! I listen to you all day … [Read more...]
Tired of Being an Angry Parent? 6 Tips to Control Your Anger
Do you find yourself making threats, inflicting punishments, or screaming in anger? Do you feel overwhelmed, tired or stressed, and unsure how to handle your anger differently? Do you feel like a horrible parent? You are not alone. Many parents struggle to control their anger. If you are tired of being an … [Read more...]
How to respond when your child says, “Mom, Can We Talk?”
Sometimes, it's the simplest words that are the most important. "I'm going to throw up." "The kitchen is on fire." "Mom, can we talk?" They are important, significant, meaningful words. While you would probably immediately respond to the first two statements, the third is often overlooked, minimized, or ignored. You don't mean to … [Read more...]
End the Mealtime Battles Once and For All
"I don't like broccoli." "Come on, try it..." "No way, you can't make me eat peas." "You might like it." "I want chicken nuggets." "You can have a cookie if you try this first." Mealtime with a selective (otherwise know as "picky") eater can be exhausting. The dinner-time dance can last for hours and your child may not be any closer to … [Read more...]
Don’t Cancel Christmas! 5 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress
It's a miracle that the tree is actually still standing. Between the impromptu pillow fight in the living room and your toddler's never-ending interest in rearranging the ornaments, it's still in pretty good shape. Still, you have your doubts that it will last until Christmas. Unfortunately, the tree is only one of your concerns right now. … [Read more...]