Tag: parenting

  • Making Space for Awareness

    Ever have one of those evenings where you go to bed and wonder where the day went wrong? You know that the kids were not on their best behavior but also have the sinking feeling inside that you weren’t the exactly best role model either. It can be uncomfortable to admit that despite your best…

  • Non-stop Negotiation Getting You Down?

    As the parent it doesn’t always feel so great when all of your positions get shaved away by your budding courtroom lawyer. It is exhausting. Setting limits firmly and still honoring the dignity of your child isn’t really hard, but it takes practice.

  • Small Steps into the New Year

    A lot is written this time of year about what we “resolve” to do for the future. Goals are great but it can be really discouraging when, despite good intentions, they are not met.

  • Parenting with the Body in Mind

    We sure hear a lot these days about the brain – and brain science. When we hear the word “brain” most of us think of the soft stuff that is inside our skull. That is, in fact, our “brain.” But it turns out that our body is not just the thing that carries our brain…

  • Whose problem is it anyway?

    One of the many little posters my parenting instructor used read, “Whose problem is it, anyway?” He tried to teach us to recognize which problems were ours (as parents) and which problems really “belonged” to the children.

  • Sibling Conflict…Can any Good Come of This?

    As you prepare for the winter break and memorable family time; perhaps stuck in your house because of wet, cold weather, running out of activities to keep the kids occupied, counting the days until school starts again…..What will your children be learning from each other? Use the normal conflict of daily life to teach your…

  • Consequences or Solutions?

    Solutions help children learn from their mistakes – and invite both responsibility and dignity

  • Now Listen here Young Lady !!!!!!

    Contributed by Melanie Miller, M.Ed., Certified Positive Discipline Trainer and School Counselor Back talk, eye rolling, the glare, the, “Oh mom how can you be so stupid look”…. As our children grow older, their vocabulary has grown and their words, attitude and eye rolling can dig a little deeper. The next time the disrespect comes…

  • Why Kids Lie and What to do About It

    Contributed by Melanie Miller, M.Ed. Lying is one of those behaviors that can certainly bring up a lot of strong feelings in parents. Understanding why kids lie and what we can do as parents to decrease lying, and promote honesty, can be a welcome relief! The following information is from a TV interview with Certified…

  • Finding (and using) your “P.O.S.” Button

    By finding our “P.O.S.” (pause) button we can bring our best selves to our parenting challenges.