Empowering Parents editor Elisabeth Wilkins talks with James Lehman about his life, his book, and the hard-won lessons he discovered growing up as a defiant, acting-out child. From being abandoned in a basement as an infant to a life of crime and drug addiction in his teens and young adulthood, learn how James transformed his... Read more »
I believe the distinction between mild rebelliousness and disrespect has to be drawn very clearly. But, as a parent, how do you know for sure if your child’s behavior has crossed the line and become truly disrespectful? And what should you do when they cross the line? When a child is being rude or complaining that... Read more »
Verbal abuse and intimidation by children and teens isn't just a phase that goes away—it doesn't just happen. It often has deep roots that begin early in a child's development. And it often begins as a way for kids to try to get power through controlling their parents. In this article, I'm going to show... Read more »
Recently, I talked with the mother of a 16-year-old girl enrolled in Empowering Parent's eCoaching program about her daughter’s behavior outside of the house. This mom had just begun the Total Transformation program, but had questions about how to use its techniques to make her daughter follow the rules when she was away from home.... Read more »
Ah, the battle cry of the "almost adult"! Parents all around the country cringe when they try to enforce a family rule, only to be met with their 17-and-a-half-year-old's shout: "Soon, you won't be able to control me at all!" Is that true? Are all bets off once your child reaches that golden age of 18? The... Read more »
A diagnosis is an important piece of the puzzle we are trying to solve when we try to help kids with disabilities learn how to function. Many parents are relieved when they get a diagnosis for their acting-out, “problem child” because they see it as a guideline for the future. They think, “Now we’ll know... Read more »
When you have a child who acts out, throws tantrums or is disrespectful, their embarrassing behavior can make you want to curl up into a little ball and hide. Here, James Lehman, MSW gives you some tips on how to cope—and how to teach your child the skills he needs. Many parents struggle with embarrassment when... Read more »
When you have a child who acts out and is disrespectful or disruptive, it's easy to compare him to the so-called "good kids" who never seem to get into trouble or give their parents grief. Many parents feel hopeless about the possibility of ever teaching their child to become the kind of well-behaved member of the... Read more »
"On the way home from work every day, I start getting stressed out because I know that my 15-year-old son will be waiting, ready to start a fight with me. There are times when I want to turn the car around and not deal with him anymore, but I know that's wrong. I'm so tired... Read more »
Some children think they’re the center of the universe, and behave as if everyone should revolve around them like the planets orbit the sun. From the 10-year-old “diva” who demands center stage at all times to the 17-year-old who takes out his frustrations on his family when his girlfriend breaks up with him, this attention-seeking... Read more »