“The natural order of things when it comes to the world of a child has always been that parents (or another substitute “big person” in the child’s life) are in the lead of all things. The parent scripts the tone of the child’s existence, they chart the course, they shield, adjust, and calibrate. This is […]
We are living in very interesting times. For months and months, we have lived outside of the regular rhythm of our lives due to pandemic lockdowns and/or restrictions. Our schedules and routines have been significantly altered. And for many of us, living a small life that consists of only our immediate households has become *almost* […]
I’m thrilled to feature a guest article written by David Loyst, my partner-in-presenting and my partner in life. David has been studying and teaching about parenting for over 30 years as a Speech Language Pathologist and Autism Consultant … and has been practicing with his own children for more than 20 years. Over the past […]
“I am a psychologist. I have spent my life’s work studying the developing child and the impact of parenting on child development. I know this field inside and out, backwards and frontwards. I know that a parenting approach that is both firm and kind is key. I know that being the kind of parent who […]
We all want to grow up happy, well-adjusted children who find their way in the world. The “parenting” world is meant to inspire our journey as big people in the shepherding of our littles along such a path. Yet, while it is true that being informed in the raising up of your children can be […]
“Several years ago, I met a 12-year-old boy who had developed severe anxiety following a break-in at his family’s home while they were away on vacation. To cope with his alarm about this intrusion and his worry about a potential recurrence, he became obsessed with home safety, particularly with checking the locks. This developed into […]
I don’t apologize to my kids. Ever. And whenever this comes up at a workshop or course that I am teaching it sets a lot of parents off. It turns out, we are collectively uncomfortable with the idea of not apologizing. And yet, apologizing has an important core problem when it comes to capably being […]
Oftentimes, feelings of overwhelm and anxiety can creep up on us, quietly lurking in the background… until “Bam!” We’re suddenly overcome with feelings of stress, worry, or irritation. And while we preach self-care to our friends and family, we may secretly think to ourselves, “But I don’t have TIME to do those things… there is […]
In my latest book, Parenting Right From The Start, I have shared the 12 Parenting Principles (pg 119). These 12 principles were designed to be guidelines for all parents with children of any age in order to foster a connected and meaningful relationship, right from the start. As my book started making its way from […]
Separation. Divorce. You didn’t set out for this to happen, but here you are. And in addition to coming to terms with your own emotions related to this significant change in your family structure, you are also left worrying about how your kids will handle it. Will it ruin them? It can feel overwhelming. I […]