Teens Always Rebel. Right?
I recently received an email that was sent out to a large number of parents from a teacher at my daughter’s high school. Her main goal was to let folks know she wouldn’t be available for conferences; however, she offered some parenting advice as well. One line jumped out to me: “The teenage brain is […]
Why Your Discipline Often Backfires
Squeeze in some affirmation BEFORE the fidgeting. Estimate how long your child might be able to sit reasonably still. Then before the inevitable squirming starts proactively give positive attention: “I notice how hard you are working to sit still in your chair. Sitting still really helps our dinner be peaceful, and it also keeps you […]
Do You Have a Positive View of Your Child’s Future?
The Search Institute has done years of research on how kids turn out to be healthy, contributing members of society. They are probably most well-known for their list of 40 developmental assets that kids need to be successful as adults. Number 40 has always intrigued me: Positive View of Personal Future. In essence, when kids […]
Are You a Charlie Brown Grown-Up?
We’ve all been there. A child sasses, lies, whacks a sibling or shirks a responsibility, and we feel compelled to tell them what they did wrong and why it’s wrong. It’s good to tell kids what’s right and what’s wrong, but at times like this the message just won’t sink in. Kids call these “lectures.” […]
An Early CF Video – Corny, Funny, but Totally Practical!
Have you ever gotten in a morning meltdown with your child? Have you ever witnessed a food-splosion in your kitchen? Have you ever been the recipient of a food-splosion in your kitchen? We have, and since it’s #ThrowbackThursday, we thought we’d dust off this six-year-old, 3-minute-long gem of a YouTube video from CF Co-Founder Jim […]
So you’re raising a feisty spitfire? Cool!
Julia was a spitfire. When she was a tyke, she was ready to take the world by storm. All who knew her mom, Maggie, knew of this little one’s intensity. Creativity, exuberance, a ferocious snuggle instinct, and excellent vocabulary were sometimes difficult to enjoy amidst defiance, meltdowns, sleep issues, and definitely a plan for […]
Redirect Power Struggles with One Question
Ten minutes before dinner your child wheels around the corner and asks, “Can I go to a friend’s for dinner?” Many parent mentors would suggest that this is one of those times to stand firm. And we agree. The question is – about what should we be firm?
A Creative Alternative to Those Endless Reminders…
Big sister Bella bounces and crashes her way through life with Tigger-like abandon, unaware of the impact of her big movements and energy on those around her. When it came to pushing her new little brother in his baby swing, WHEE! The higher the better, of course! Her mom Cassie sometimes felt like a […]
Beat the Monday Blues with Sunday Lavender
In a coaching session, Karen shared that their family’s weekly schedule seemed to take them captive every Sunday night. Lilly, their third-grader, unofficially declared it “Moan and groan about Monday morning” time. The whole family would get drawn into her dramatic, despairing proclamations about the boredom and frustration that awaited her the next day. Parental […]
When Kids Just Won’t Obey: The Clash of Giants
I’ve blown it many times. But the following event stands out as an example of both a failure to live by the stuff I teach, and the power of the teaching. Upon reflection, it’s a tale of battling giants. One warm afternoon my blooming adolescent son Daniel pushed me beyond my limit. We’d been arguing […]
