Two opportunities in every parenting problem

  Problem. Issue. Challenge. Call them what you will, all parents face them. Ultimately, all parents also want to not be facing them. Problem solving Our culture, and most of our own backgrounds and experience tell us to spot the problem (usually “out...

Stop trying to fix your parenting problems

Yes, it’s a radical thing for a parent coach to say since that’s often why moms and dads first seek out my support. “Our son whines all the time, we just want it to stop.” “My daughter only wants me to comfort her. She never lets her dad...

Expecting more than our children can easily give

In my post Are you too helpful with your children? I wrote about how we can inadvertently reinforce beliefs of helplessness when we’re too quick to step in and give our children a hand. For some parents, or for some of us at different times, however, we hinder...

Reverence for our children

The other day I was in the kitchen preparing dinner while a Kindermusik CD played in the background. As Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour (often referred to as the Barcarolle) by Jacques Offenbach began, my daughter hopped down from her stool and started dancing in the...

Children and “comfort zones”

“How much/how far do you push your child out of their comfort zone?” Have you ever found yourself asking this about your child? Do you wonder about the “right” response? Do you feel anxious when your want for your child differs from her want...