“Mindful parenting” sounds attractive, right? Sure, I want to be a mindful parent but what does that phrase actually mean? John Gottman defines “mindful parenting” as the ability to respond and not react. He goes on to discuss finding ways to control our own emotions: Managing our own emotions and behaviors is the key to […]
What to do if your child is the bully & is better than that
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“Do you have a minute to chat?” my son’s teacher asked me waving me to come into her classroom. My stomach dropped as I managed a smile, “Sure!” She began to tell me a story about a tribe of four boys picking on another, smaller boy in their class. My son? Part of the tribe. […]
The Greatest Gift You Can Give a Child: Empathy & Gratitude
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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 […]
I told my 6 year old the truth about Las Vegas and this is what happened…
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I cradled my iPhone in the palm of my hand. My eyes scanned the headline: “deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history”. My breath lost its way for a moment. Then, as most moms would do, I tucked away my feelings and turned to my sons. “Mama, what is it? What’s wrong?” my 6-year-old asked me. So […]
Positive Things to Say to Your Child During Negative Moments
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When my child began facing obstacles, at first, I took it personally. I was self-conscious. I felt like a failure as a parent and truly believed that all eyes were on me. You can read all about the stages of my parenting a child with extreme behavior. Having a child with obstacles isn’t rare. Each […]
The 6 Stages of Parenting a Child with Challenging Behavior
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There is a process of parenting a child with challenges. Whether your child ends up diagnosed as being “on the spectrum”, or if your child has an extreme and intense personality, is beside the point. At the end of the day, we have an opportunity to celebrate all these differences for what the qualities really […]