A Thank You to My Ex Husband
Thank you for teaching our children how to be self-reliant, to think for themselves, to be independent, and to strive for more in their lives. I’ve had many sleepless nights worrying about my kids when they were with their dad. The reason I worried was that I was trying hard to be intentional about…
Instead of telling them what NOT to do, tell them what they MAY do.
We were at the park the other day having a picnic by the lake. There were a lot of people there (it was 4th of July) and I realized it was a great opportunity to observe the families and they’re interactions and take notes for future blogs. That day I saw a recurring situation:…
Teens: Kids or Adults?
Many parents are frustrated when parenting their teens because they continue to parent and discipline the way they did when their teens were kids. Okay, technically they’re still kids. But would you really consider an 18 yr old an adult? Yes and no. Teens are neither kids, nor adults. They are at a crossroads…
Proud Parent
We celebrated my son’s high school graduation this past weekend and I am still bursting with feelings of pride and joy. As I reflected on the party, I had this profound moment of realizing that this event was the last event that I was in charge of doing for my child son. Going…
Let the timer be the bully.
Have trouble following through on discipline because you feel bad making your child upset? Use a timer! Whether it be on the stove, your phone, or a teddy bear cookie timer, a timer can be your best friend. All it takes is a short conversation with your child to discuss the role of the…
Can’t give it to them in reality? Give it in fantasy.
One of the best techniques for dealing with children who want something they can’t/shouldn’t have is to give it to them in fantasy. This works really well with kids of all ages – even teenagers! The idea behind this is to empathize with their very real, very strong desires while also teaching limits…
Summertime!
The perfect opportunity to learn about life through gardening. Give your kids their own little plot of land (maybe 3 x 3 ft) and let them have at it. Give them some flower seeds, a couple of vegetables, a trowel and a watering can. Giving the children their own garden spaces allows them…
Prepare them, don’t police them.
Our teens and preteens aren’t on Facebook anymore, and if they are, it’s probably to keep in touch with, or placate, the “old” people in their lives. We are appeased when we see their cute Facebook pictures of prom and their adorable cat tricks posts, but we aren’t seeing what’s going on at Instagram,…
Screen time effects on teenage brains
Please watch this PBS newshour segment. It’s only 7.5 minutes long. You can make it to the end! Summer is just about here. Do yourself and your kids a favor and get ahead of the game. Make a plan now for what your kids (and you) will be doing this summer. No one needs…
Reading Aloud with your Kids: not a lost art!
Wonderful article with practical suggestions. If you have children, make the library a regular outing. Ask the librarian for suggestions on books that are funny, interesting, and exciting. Reading aloud to your children is so enjoyable when the books are not mundane. You DO NOT have to be stuck with Jack and Annie. You…