Latest From The Blog
Avocado Throwing Fit and 4 Other Times to Use this Sanity Saver Tool
Did it take your kiddo forever to get his pajamas on last night or did she flat out refuse to brush her hair in the morning? Or maybe he always puts up a fight when it’s bath time. Wouldn’t it be great to have a ten minute tool that can turn your child’s worst...
Ten Minutes of Special Time Can Change Everything
What if I told you that with ten minutes of your undivided attention: Your child will be more cooperative—more likely to pick up the toys when you ask them to or get their pajamas on at night. You’ll build trust in your relationship with your kid so they rely on you...
Grocery Store Meltdown Part II—When the Sh*%t Hits the Fan!
You’ve tried everything to ward off the tantrum at the grocery store (see this post if you haven’t): You connected through Special Time before you left the house, You kept that yummy connection when you got to the store, and You tried some playful moves when they were...
Stop the Grocery Store Meltdown Before it Starts…Or Any Other Public Catastrophe!
You knew it was a bad idea. But the pantry was bare, your kid squeezed in a nap, and you hoped a trip to the grocery store would be quick and painless. But you were wrong. Tears and a tantrum were not on your list. A smooth trip to the grocery store is possible but it...
From Holiday Hell to Holiday Happy
Tips to Reduce the Stress of Parenting When the Celebrations Start The holidays are here and as wonderful as a happy holiday would be, the reality is not always that joyful. Your little one asks you to play every thirty minutes, but you keep saying no because the...
The Secret to a Better Vacation
For kids, one of the best things about vacation is that they have more of their parents’ attention. We may be able to let go of some of the worries and distractions that consume us during the week and put more time and attention into our children when we’re away with...
Children Hunger for Play and Laughter with You
Stresses of all kinds, loneliness, isolation, and criticism erase a child’s sense of connection, and make it harder for a child to love and learn. But I'm always amazed at how a little play full of laughter can quickly restore a connection between a parent and a...
Want to Get a Handle On Your Child’s Difficult Behaviors? Try this first.
Is hitting, spitting, whining, slamming doors, or nasty back talk driving you to the end of your rope? One of the first things you can do to resolve a child’s difficult behavior is to observe. Put on your detective hat and simply notice. Notice when that pesky...
Scared Out of His Mind: What To Say When a Child is Afraid
There are many things that can scare a child: a loud noise, an angry parent, a barking dog, a hospitalization, witnessing violence. Sometimes we know children are afraid because they tell us so, but at other times, it comes out in their behavior. They act out, they...
Parenting When Your Heart is Breaking
When someone close to you dies, a relationship ends, illness strikes—parenting can feel like you’ve just been hit by a boulder. We don’t have much attention, if any at all, for a little one who wets the bed, won’t eat his dinner, or won’t share with her little sister....
Love for Breakfast: Four Proven Strategies to Reduce Conflict and Increase Cooperation with Your Kids in the Morning–that Work in the Afternoon too!
Getting out of the house in the morning can be tough, and sometimes picking kids up after school is no tea party either! Here are a few strategies to try if you find yourself yelling, bribing, punishing, or frequently frustrated with your child before the day has even...
Why I lost It and A Few Tips For Handling Summer Stress
Summer vacation should be a time when the family feels more connected. So why is it often so stressful? In June, my stepdaughter and I flew to New York City, just the two of us, to chase the impossible dream of seeing the Broadway musical, Hamilton.I treated those...
The Cure for Whining: Two silly things to try
Whining is one of those behaviors that drive parents nuts! After an afternoon full of whining, it’s easy to snap. But kids don’t whine just to push our buttons or make us head for the hills. When children whine, they’re letting us know that they need some extra...
How I Learned to Shut My Mouth and Why You Should Too
One simple, yet surprisingly hard thing to do as a parent is to simply be quiet and let our children talk…or cry, laugh, giggle, sing, and scream. Working with parents of little ones and bigger kids, I hear it all the time. It’s hard to be quiet and not interrupt,...
Two Secrets to Getting Your Kids to Cooperate—And One They’ll Love!
You try to negotiate, you talk sweet, you bribe them, you give them consequences, and then…you lose it. Getting kids to cooperate can be tough! If they would just get dressed in the morning like you asked, ate everything that you put on their plate, stopped...