How we can become more empathetic

“Do you have a feeling that’s visiting today? Can you open your door and invite it to play? Can you ask what it wants, and then check it out? Welcome it and listen to what it’s about?” ~ Lauren Rubenstein, from Visiting Feelings This quote...

Empathy at home – Easier said than done

Far beyond anything intellectual our children will ever learn, I value their self-discovery, that knowing and understanding of their own internal landscape. One aspect of self-awareness and self-expression that we’re actively working to foster in our daughter...

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...

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...

Apologizing — a skill of a masterful parent

“Wait!” you cry. How can a “master parent” be someone who needs to apologize? Doesn’t being a “master” imply that mistakes aren’t made and moments of weakness are met with awesome self-control? If “mastery”...