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...

Are you too helpful with your children?

One of my favorite wise women is Rachel Naomi Remen. I was given her article In the Service of Life by one of my mentors and it has a profound influence on me as a parent. I strongly encourage you to read this piece for yourself as it offers numerous gems. For now,...

Anxiety in our children

“Fear Knocked, Faith Answered.” ~ Unknown Fear and anxiety are emotions we all feel, regardless of our age or life experience. Sometimes what we’re afraid of is real, sometimes it’s a story we’re believing in our minds that may or may not...

You are enough

In today’s world we parents often sense that the weight of the world is on our shoulders. What we do is so vital. How we do it so important. The responsibilities on our list sometimes seem endless. The “stakes” are so high. Is it any wonder that many...

Habits aren’t helpful for conscious parents

I can be a complete control freak when it comes to parenting my daughter. Not a pretty thing to admit — and even uglier in action — it’s what happens when I’m under stress. In this state “controlling” is my default mode, an...

Parents have “discipline” all wrong

I just finished reading How Do You Discipline a Child in the Post-Hitting Era? and am amazed that parents can still be so confused. The problem is that we use the word “discipline” when what we actually mean is “punish.” Discipline is a trait...

Bring more ease into family life

I’m a recovering perfectionist. I once remember describing to one of my coaches the fact that I didn’t like to “sit around twiddling my thumbs.” A part of me still believes that my self-worth — my inherent value as a human being —...

Apologies aren’t enough (from parents)

In my post, Apologizing — a skill of a masterful parent, I wrote about the importance of parents making apologies to their children. I emphasized that apologizing helped parents “cultivate a long-term, respect-based relationship with our children,” in...