Parenting Blog

"There's one thing you've touched on over the years that I can happily say is now integrated in my soul, and that is that ultimately my children want my love and acceptance. I no longer have to remember this on an academic level, and repeat it as a mantra. It is there inside me naturally, and surfaces often when I feel uncertain how to proceed with a conflict. My girls are 6 and 7 and I've noticed that lately they respond with a dramatic "No!!!" when I ask them to do something they don't want to do. Instead of reacting to the "No!" as a power struggle and a test of my authority which would inevitably came out in a forceful and angry tone, I calmly repeat the request and expand on the reason, knowing all the while that they ultimately want to do what's right. I have to say, they always do what I want. When I hear another mother say that she doesn't tolerate a verbal "No" from her children and reminds them that she's the "boss", I cringe." --Terry

Most of us wish our kids would obey our every request without a fuss. But that would mean we were raising automatons who weren't thinking for themselves.  There will be many times in your child's teen years where having practiced saying No! could save her life. Your child isn't wrong to say No!; she has a reason.  It may not be what you consider a good reason, but she certainly thinks it is.  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

"Dr. Laura -- You talk about setting limits and it sounds so easy.  But how do I actually get my kid to do what's right?" -- Amber

How do we get kids to "do right"?  We can:  READ POST