Latest From The Blog
Repairing Ruptures: How Apologizing Helps Our Kids Thrive
"Repairing ruptures is the most essential thing in parenting." Dr. Dan Siegel As parents, we've all had those moments where we’ve reacted in a way we regretted with our children. Maybe we: 🤯 yelled harshly because one of our kids hit the other one ;...
Holiday Table Tantrums: Averting Challenging Behavior at the Dinner Table.
The holiday dinner table can feel like a battlefield when kids refuse to stay seated or won’t eat anything on their plates. The embarrassment of our child's behavior, which can provoke disapproving looks and judgmental comments from relatives, is all too real. Why...
Stop Walking on Eggshells: A Powerful Approach to Setting Boundaries With Your Child
We've all been there… Your child is sprawled on the floor of the grocery store, screaming because you won't buy the box of Lucky Charms they want. Or maybe they're in their room refusing to get dressed for school, yelling that everything is "too scratchy." Or your...
When Halloween Gets Scary (and Not in a Fun Way): Tips for Sensitive Kids
The rustle of candy wrappers and the excited chatter about costumes mark the arrival of Halloween. Yet for many children, this holiday brings a mix of emotions. A child might freeze at the sight of a scary decoration, burst into tears over an itchy costume, or feel...
Seven Playful Ways to End Mealtime Battles
You've spent the last hour preparing a nutritious meal, only to be met with wrinkled noses and protests from your children. Sound familiar? You're not alone! For many families, the dinner table often becomes a battleground where power struggles ensue, and patience...
Discover the Playful Parenting Hack That Stops Whining in its Tracks
We've all been there - an afternoon filled with whining that pushes us to our limits. But here's the thing: kids don't whine just to test our patience. When children whine, they're sending us a message that they need connection. Often, feelings of powerlessness mixed...
The Surprising Truth about Kids and Divorce
Let's debunk a common myth: divorce doesn't have to define your children's future. It's normal and healthy for everyone in the family to experience strong feelings when parents separate. But research shows that with the right support, children can actually thrive in...
Big News! Preparing Your Older Child for a New Baby 🍼
As an expectant parent, you've likely felt a whirlwind of emotions about your upcoming addition. It's a big transition for everyone. The family dynamic is about to shift, and your older child may be wondering what this means for them. Below are some tips to help...
Breaking the Cycle: How to Become an Emotionally Aware Parent
For many of us, our parents' ability to attune to our emotional needs was limited at best. They came from a generation where children were expected to be seen and not heard. Parenting was about teaching kids to behave and punishing them when they didn’t. If we think...
Resolving Sibling Struggles: Strategies to restore harmony
For many parents, there comes a time when you are caught in the middle of a sibling crossfire: Your little one bops his brother on the head when the bigger one takes his truck. At breakfast time, two siblings make a run for the red bowl. They get to the cabinet at the...
To Parents of Teens Who Want to Improve Communication with Their Kids
As our kids get older, we have less and less control over their lives. By the time they get to adolescence, they’ve chosen their own friends, they’ve seen things online that would make our eyeballs fall out, and they’ve had romantic interests we know nothing about....
Parenting with a Partner: Why it gets hard and how to make it better
“Conflict is an opportunity to learn how to love each other better over time.” Dr. John Gottman Underlying our children’s behavior are often simple questions they want answered everyday… Am I good? Do you love me? Will you keep me safe? With partners, those...
The Special Time Solution: The Secret to Smoother Summer Vacations
Summer vacations promise relaxation and family bonding, but reality often unfolds differently than we expect. New surroundings, long journeys, unfamiliar faces, and busy schedules can leave children feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and prone to meltdowns. Add in the...
The ‘Wrong’ Gift, the Right Response: Navigating Holiday Let Downs with Grace
Expectations can run high during the holidays…and so can disappointment. When the presents are opened, do you ever hear your kid say: 😢 "I wanted the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon, and this is just a stupid spaceship set." 😠 "This board game looks...
Safe, Seen, and Connected: Why Children Can Be So Challenging
Our child’s behavior can be perplexing, infuriating, and downright worrisome. But when we have an idea of what’s lying at the root of their upset, it can help us develop more empathy, understanding, and a more targeted response. It can help us apply the right...