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. Since then he and I [...]Continue Reading
family communication
The Difference of 17 Seconds – a quick way to reduce anxiety
This post is an excerpt from my book Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection not Perfection. It's a tiny practice that really helps me listen better, manage anxiety and give people room to grow and be. The Difference of Seventeen Seconds “Are you ever going to let me finish [...]Continue Reading
Problem Solving for Parents – How to Ask Questions That Will Get You Better Help
Problem solving as a parent sometimes fills me with confusion and overwhelm. I find myself seeing all of things going wrong and despairing at figuring anything out. One of the things I've always had difficulty with is asking for help. Not because I don't want it, but because I get confused [...]Continue Reading
Red Flag Words – How to understand what your child really needs
As the end of the school year neared, both of my sons struggled with final projects. It was exhausting to have evenings filled with arguments about why they couldn't possible get their work done. This was particularly bad one evening last week with one boy morosely sitting at the table not working [...]Continue Reading
My child gets on my nerves!! 5 Strategies to Help You Take Your Kid’s Behavior Less Personally
Maybe it's an innocent comment like, "Ewww, Mama,your breath stinks, don't kiss me!" or maybe it's an angry outburst - name calling and slammed doors. Some things are hard not to take personally. Do you ever find yourself thinking or saying any of the following? You are making me so angry [...]Continue Reading
Phrases to Help You Stay Calm When Kids Are Moving Slow As Molasses
We've all been there - stuck between a clock relentlessly moving toward an appointment and a kid oblivious to time passing. Whether it's being late to school, sports practice or a dentist appointment, kids moving slow when it's time to go is maddening! Here are some helpful phrases to keep kids on [...]Continue Reading
