Latest Posts
"If you entertain thoughts that... your child is
manipulating you, taking advantage of you, ignoring you, or
disrespecting you -- you will often feel annoyed, irritated, and angry.
However, when instead you think in terms of the needs that you and your
child are trying to meet, then you are more likely to feel compassion
and connection. And you are much more likely to take action that
contributes to your child's well-being as well as your own." -- Sura
Hart & Victoria Kindle-Hodson
Is your child's behavior irritating you? Whether he's whining, bossy, or defiant, here's why -- what you can do about it. READ POST
"2 year-olds argue with their parents 20 to 25 times an hour." -- Child Development
Between 12 and 15 months, we learn a wonderful word: "No!"
It's an ecstatic discovery. We learn we are separate, autonomous
beings with a will of our own who can impact what happens in the world.
We delight in saying, "No!" at every opportunity. READ POST
"What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens." -- Thaddeus Golas
How do you remember not to sweat the small stuff? Keep Perspective!
I know, it's easier said than done. It's simply impossible to see the
larger landscape when we're down in the swamps. And every parent finds
him or herself in the swamp sometimes.
But if we can just step
back, we realize that things are actually hopeful. Start with the fact
that you have this child, while there are people all over the world
yearning for a child -- or, worse yet, for one they've lost. Notice how
you've been transformed into a more loving, patient, responsible, joyful
person just by being your child’s parent. Then consider the sheer joy
and aliveness your child brings into your life. READ POST
"Parents often fail to realize the importance of playing with children of
all ages. Some new research, for example, by Anthony Pellegrini,
suggests that boys who engage in playful rough and tumble wrestling with
their dads have more positive social skills than boys who don't. I
always recommend what I call PlayTime, which is one-on-one time between a
parent and a child where the child is completely in charge of what they
do, and the parent gets down on the floor and gives their undivided,
enthusiastic attention (no phone calls or dinner preparations or paying
the bills)." -- Lawrence Cohen,
Playful
Parenting*
"Now when my four year old starts whining, I hold her. Sometimes it takes ten minutes, but then she tells me when she's done, and goes off. It seems to ground her. It grounds me, too." -- Kelly READ POST
"In our busy lives, it is often the simple gesture that is overlooked, the simple need that is never satisfied. Consider: We figure out a way to chauffeur the kids to nine lessons a week, to organize the vacation trip to Disney World, to throw a birthday party for a dozen five year olds. So why does a quiet story told by candlelight seem impossible to manage? In truth, the story -- told from the heart and shared in flickering darkness -- is more nourishing for our child's soul, and for our own as well...."-- Katrina Kenison READ POST
Parenting Blog RSS
