Words of encouragement can be a powerful tool to empowering kids, filling them with positive messaging. Just a few words can make all the difference in a child's day, and can even help them to overcome challenges, building resilience. When kids feel discouraged, words of encouragement can give them [...]Continue Reading
family communication
The Emotions Bowl – A Tool for Starting Conversation About Feelings and Emotions
My brother was seeking a way to stay close to his kids during a very tumultuous time in his life and he asked the advice of a family counselor. She suggested the emotions bowl. This is a wonderful tool for teaching kids about emotions and helping families grow closer by being able to have open [...]Continue Reading
How to Deal When Someone Criticizes Your Parenting Style
At some point, if you haven't already, you will likely face situations where another parent or a family member criticizes your parenting style. If you've found your way to this post, my guess is you're already in a "don't judge my parenting" scenario. Positive, respectful parenting is a fairly [...]Continue Reading
7 Things Upset Children Want But May Not Tell You
Sometimes I’m at a loss as to what to say when my kids are angry or frustrated. They seem to need me, be push me away at the same time. I've learned that even though their emotions are overwhelming, upset children want something even if they're not ready to share it. To help with this dilemma, [...]Continue Reading
Relationship Repair: Six Ways to Rebuild Connection with Kids and Teens
Stress can take a serious toll on our relationships. We can get into a painful cycle of rupture and reaction that feels impossible to get out of. Is repair even possible at this point? YES. Best selling author Rachel Macy Stafford tells us how. This post contains affiliate links and I may be [...]Continue Reading
3 Simple but Not Easy Keys to Less Conflict With Your Strong Willed Child
As a mom to a strong willed child I really WANT these to be 3 simple and easy keys to less conflict, but that would be dishonest. If you've parented a challenging child for any length of time, you've tried every "easy" trick out there to reduce conflict in your family. Sometimes we find things that [...]Continue Reading