Click here for an audio version of this blog: Over the past several months, I have heard some questionable tips from parenting experts on the topic of “consequences.” What’s surprising to me is that these are parenting experts I respect and agree with most of the time. But not this time. Here’s an example of one tip that raised my eyebrows: “The … Read More
A GEM of a parenting tool
This month, I’m bringing back a message I wrote before I had a blog. It’s from September, 2013. . . Recently, one of my favorite quotes came across my desk and inspired my message today. Here it is: “Be where you are, otherwise you will miss your life.” — Buddha (paraphrased by Jack Kornfield) I love the meaning and have … Read More
Parenting can be oh, so uncomfortable
Click below for the audio version of this message. No one ever told me how hard parenting would be. Everyone seemed to play up the joy and love (which for sure is true) but they failed to warn me about the shock, fear, disappointment and downright despair I’d soon feel. They also failed to warn me about how painful it … Read More
Making Mornings More Manageable
Most parents have experienced the “morning from hell” more often than they care to admit. I don’t even have to describe it — I’m that certain you know what I’m talking about. When I say good-bye to my kids after that kind of morning, I’m left with that terrible, icky, dark cloud lurking over my head for the next several … Read More
In parenting, I do better when I feel better. How about you?
When my 3rd baby was born, something happened to my 2nd-born. She transformed from a sweet, cheerful, optimistic and easy-going child into a needy, super-sensitive, irritating being. She was bugging the crap out of me. I didn’t like the way I was feeling, and I definitely did not like the parent I was being. So I enrolled in my first parenting … Read More
Going back-to-school in chunks
About a week ago, I found myself feeling unsettled and anxious about the coming of a new school year. My son will start high school this month which presents all sorts of new emotional and logistical issues, I lost my carpool partner for my two younger daughters, and I had a lot of questions about what the extracurricular schedule would look like. … Read More
3 Tips for a Smooth Transition Back to School
As summer comes to a close, it’s time for another huge transition in our children’s lives: a new school year. Some kids handle this transition with ease. Others don’t! And most all kids need some help with transitions: from bed to school, from school to home, from play to work, from awake to sleep, etc. The transition from summer to school is a … Read More
5 Tips for Work / Life Balance (whether you work for pay or not)
“Balance” means something different to everyone. But we all know how it feels. And have you noticed that when you feel it, parenting (and everything) is so much easier? To me, “balance” does not mean having equal amounts of things. Rather, it means having as much of something as you need, in order to feel a sense of peace, fulfillment, and general … Read More
Transforming the Little Moments to Bring in the Light — a guest blog from Lisa Fuller
This month, I’m featuring a guest blog from my fellow Positive Discipline Associate and friend, Lisa Fuller. I love this story, and hope you will, too. Wouldn’t it be great to have a “before” and “after” parenting show? Last month I traveled on swanky Virgin America and enjoyed the guilty pleasure of watching “What Not to Wear.” Are … Read More
My kid uses my own parenting tool on me . . . and it works!
“I need a hug” is an actual parenting tool from “Positive Discipline.” You can use this tool almost any time, in any situation, and it often works wonders. Imagine that your child is having a tantrum. You say, “I need a hug!” Your child can’t hear you at first because he is tantrumming (or arguing, or negotiating, or … Read More
The power of perspective when parenting
“Your explanation of your child’s behavior guides your intervention.” — Ross Greene I will forever be transformed by having read, “The Explosive Child” by Ross Greene. Poorly named, this book describes both a perspective and a process for solving behavior problems jointly with kids (all kinds, even non-explosive ones.) His work, along with “Positive Discipline,” inspired the curriculum for … Read More
If only I could care less . . . a story about fear, wet towels, and letting go
There it was again. A wet towel lying on my 11-year-old’s bedroom floor. I’m not a neat freak, I swear. I like things to be relatively clean, and I appreciate an organized pantry or filing system. But there are often dirty dishes in my sink at bedtime, and every horizontal surface in my office is covered with something that … Read More