Play Fighting Teaches Empathy and Resilience
Play fighting teaches empathy and resilience. It’s the opposite of what many parents think will happen.
Attachment parenting
Have I Caused My Child’s Anxiety? Steps to Healing and Repair
“Have I caused my child’s anxiety?” Sometimes the more we learn as parents, the more daunting our parenting job feels. Practical steps to healing and repair.
A Little More Irritable Over the Holidays? Here’s Some Inspiration
A little more irritable over the holidays? Today I have a short note that I hope inspires you, especially if you find that the holiday season tries your patience. (You’ll need to read right to the end for the inspiration). It’s a busy time of year for many, and a time when parents sometimes have …
Peaceful Parenting: Truths and Misconceptions
Like many parents, having a child was life changing for me, and I aspired to use a peaceful parenting approach. I felt deeply blessed and wanted to honor that by connecting with my child and preventing emotionally wounding him. I had my own childhood wounds, and I was determined to have a close relationship with …
What to Say to Your Kids to Build Empathy and Confidence
Many of the words that were considered acceptable for describing kids’ behavior in the 1970s and ’80s are now recognized as judgmental or damaging to self-esteem. They teach our kids to be hard on themselves and cause anxiety rather than confidence. If we want to raise empathetic kids who remain open-hearted, we need to be …
Raise a Resilient Child: When your sensitive child is anxious, easily discouraged, or unmotivated
How do you raise a resilient child when your sensitive child is anxious, easily discouraged, or not very motivated? I hear the following from many parents I work with: “I’m worried that if I let my child “get away” with behavior–such as being unmotivated, trying to get out of things, getting easily discouraged, or whining …
You Feel Guilty After Yelling at Your Child: Here’s Why You Can Let Go of Shame
It’s normal to feel guilty after yelling at your child or losing your patience with them. That’s because you have a conscience and want to do right by your kids. But it’s also normal to lose patience and yell sometimes–because you’re human! It’s “human” and “real”. And what I mean by that is that all …
Raise a Confident Child: Prevent Shame When They Make Mistakes
Parents often want to know how they can raise a confident child who has a healthy self-esteem and self-worth, and prevent toxic shame. For instance, “When my child makes a mistake, how can I help them stay self-confident rather than feeling ashamed? How can I ensure they’re feeling *guilt* rather than *shame*–so that I can …
Feel Confident in Your Connected Parenting–Even when your child is misbehaving
If you’re wondering if you’re failing because your child’s behavior isn’t what you’ve been aiming for, and you’ve been learning to use a connected parenting approach but you think maybe it’s not “working”–how can you feel confident in your connected parenting and know that you’re doing a good job? And how can you feel reassured …
Holiday Season: Less Stress, More Connection and Nostalgia
The holiday season brings mixed feelings for many, especially Moms who often carry the brunt of the workload for creating a wonderful or magical experience for others. I thought I’d share a few things that I’m either doing this Christmas, or have done over the years, to create a little less stress and more connection …
