I have three kids. A part time job. And a house that refuses to stay clean for more than a minute. There's barely enough time in the day to get the basics done, let alone anything else. And, in the midst of all the chaos, my kids are longing to feel connected to me. They are begging to be seen, noticed, and really understood. I want to … [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...]
Positive Parenting for Imperfect Families
It"s 8:30 on a school night. My daughter is supposed to be getting ready for bed. Instead, she's refusing to hand over the iPad, demanding "5 more minutes." I'm trying hard not to yell, but I can feel my blood pressure rising. I scan the stack of half-read parenting books on the shelf and wonder if any of them include the … [Read more...]
How to stop having power struggles with your 3-year-old
It's exhausting going back and forth with your kids about everything from getting in the car seat to eating their veggies. This tip will help you explore your options and decrease the power struggles with your 3-year-old (and kids of any age!) Setting the plate in front of him, you cringe. You know what's going to happen. It happens every … [Read more...]
How to Manage Toddler Tantrums
The car seat never used to be a problem. You'd plop your infant into the seat, and away you'd go. Suddenly, going anywhere in the car means that you'll first have to endure an epic toddler tantrum. What happened? Where did your sweet little baby go? Toddler tantrums can start much earlier than parents expect. It seems that as … [Read more...]
Why Flexibility is More Important than Consistency in Parenting
For many years parents have been told to be consistent. To follow through with the consequences we set. Not to back down when we've set a limit. This is a good strategy in theory, but it also binds us as parents. We make an impulsive decision to take away TV for a week, then feel stuck when we realize that there is no way to enforce … [Read more...]
How to persevere through parenting challenges
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...]
What You Need to Know About Setting Limits Without A Power Struggle
Turning off the Ipad, getting dressed, taking out the trash...if power struggles are a daily occurrence in your home, it's time to try something new. These step-by-step scripts will help you use positive parenting when setting limits (they even with strong-willed kids!). Wouldn't it be nice if your kids just did what they were told, when they … [Read more...]
How to Respond When Your Child is Disrespectful
The playdate is over. It is time to head home. You gave a 5-minute warning. You expect everything to go well. Suddenly, it happens. Your child responds disrespectfully. "No! I don't want to go! You never let me do anything fun!" You feel the anger rising inside you. You yell back, "How dare you talk to me like that!" He … [Read more...]