Misbehavior isn’t about kids being difficult or trying to manipulate you. When kids act out, it’s often a sign of something deeper—like lagging skills, unmet needs, or a lack of connection. As parents, it’s easy to get frustrated or take it personally, but here’s the truth: when kids misbehave, they’re communicating something they don’t yet…
The kids are home from college this week, and I’ve officially kicked off “Operation Bite My Tongue.” 🤪 Spoiler alert: it hasn’t been easy. At first, I caught myself falling into old habits. And of course, when I went out of my way to help, I made sure they knew. “I did your dishes for…
When your child pushes your buttons, it can feel like they’re playing a calculated game of manipulation. But are they really? What we often label as “manipulation” in children is typically something far less sinister—and far more human. Let’s unpack what’s really going on behind the outbursts, battles, and attention-seeking behavior. What Really Is Manipulation?…
Positive parenting isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a thoughtful approach that helps kids thrive while making life easier (and way more enjoyable) for you. I get it—maybe you’ve heard about it and thought, “Isn’t positive parenting just letting kids do whatever they want?” Or maybe you’ve wondered if it means giving up discipline altogether. Spoiler: it’s…
The holidays are almost here, and maybe you’re feeling the pressure to do it all—buy all the gifts, send all the cards, and attend every event. But as a parent, with so much already on your plate, the idea of adding more can feel overwhelming. What if, instead of doing more, you focused on the…
Expressing gratitude can be tricky … for kids and adults. It’s so easy to freak out when we think we are raising ungrateful and unappreciative children… or we think others may think that of us. The reality is that gratitude can be tricky to manage and express – for adults, too! Consider these two scenarios:…
As I always say, anxiety is a B@%#! Anxiety when you’re a parent? If you know, you know? As a lifelong anxiety struggler, I’ve worked hard to get my anxiety under control. But here’s the thing, even though I’ve learned how to manage it, it’s still there, always lurking in the background. It’s an extra…
When our kids melt down or have tantrums, we tend to, well, freak out ourselves. Angry thoughts pop into our head, our heart starts to race, and our palms get sweaty. As a result, we tend to react in these situations, rather than respond purposefully – and we unintentionally make things worse by adding fuel to the…
Summer colds are annoying. I’ve been home the last three weeks with a cold virus I can’t seem to kick. It’s frustrating to sit on my tushy for days on end, and to have lots of “at-home” time with very little to show for it. As a result, I’ve been spending a lot of time…
I recently wrote a blog about how we parents tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create a “perfect” summer for our kids. But what does perfect look like? Who defines “perfect?” Are we terrible parents if we don’t fill our kids’ summer with long beach days, trips to the water park…
