The best thing we can do for our kids is to make their lives more difficult. What do you think about this statement? I struggle every day with the idea behind this statement. As a mom who can actually give her kids the world, I carry tremendous guilt, fear, and often the embarrassment of fortune. […]
The Greatest Gift You Can Give a Child: Empathy & Gratitude
I remember sitting at my nana’s kitchen table. My fingers fiddled with the plastic tablecloth and I could see the bumps from various notes, to-do lists, and articles my nana tucked under the tablecloth for safe keeping and reminders. Grandparents are the best. I can still smell the coffee. I can still hear the percolator…And […]
The Secret to Positive Discipline – Why Time Outs Aren’t Enough
“There has to be a consequence. He has to know the behavior is not okay,” my husband asserted looking at me straight in the eyes. I nodded. We’ve never given timeouts or sent our kids to their rooms for punishment. We’ve always worked through the issue with them, which, arguably, will help them a great […]
How to Teach a Child Resilience, Problem-Solving, & Coping Skills
Many years ago, before I became a parent, I discovered Josh Waitzkin and his book The Art of Learning. At the time, life was all about yours truly and I was searching for ways to build resilience. By nature, I am always seeking ways to be better, how to better deal with stress, and to […]
Why Should Parents Care about Emotional Intelligence?
Imagine sitting down with a group of children to have a conversation. You notice there are children who are completely aware of the topic of the discussion. They listen, ask appropriate questions, and seem at ease with the situation. These children possess a high level of emotional intelligence. Daniel Goleman, a psychologist, wrote the book Emotional […]
7 Ideas on How to Raise a Confident Kid in Today’s Crazy World
Have you noticed that confident people seem to be people who generally have good self-esteem and high regard for themselves? A confident kid exhibits the same potential. And likewise, those with healthy self-esteem are usually pretty confident too. As parents, we all want to raise an independent child who we don’t have to worry about […]