As a parent of a teen, you try to help your son or daughter make good decisions. You provide guidance. You give your child facts. You explain the pros and cons. You talk to other parents. You think about how you felt when you were a teen, and the consequences you suffered when you made... Read more »
A few months ago, we asked Empowering Parents readers to share how they respond when their child acts out. We asked this question because we want to help you be a more effective parent with real life, day-to-day struggles. There were three parenting styles that readers consistently told us they were using and weren’t working... Read more »
When your child lies to you, it stirs up a potent mix of emotions. You might feel angry, hurt, and offended all at once. Lying is extremely upsetting for parents because it shakes the foundation of trust we have in our child. So it's understandable and normal if you have an emotional reaction to lying—whether... Read more »
Procrastinating about homework. Backtalk. Refusal to do chores. Cursing. Most of the parents I speak with on a daily basis know something has to change with their child’s behavior, yet they feel overwhelmed about how to change it and unsure of where to start. With this uncertainty, it’s easy to get “stuck” in a place... Read more »
The holidays can be a tough time for everyone. And when you're parenting an oppositional, defiant, or challenging child, the holidays can be more than tough—they can be downright awful. My son is in his thirties now, but all I have to do is close my eyes, and I can remember so clearly the arguing... Read more »
You put in the work: you raised your child, got them through school, and prepared them as best you could for living on their own as an adult. You were looking forward to having the house to yourselves again—finally, a little peace and quiet. For many parents, the peace of a child-free home is short-lived, if... Read more »
Do you have an ODD child or teen who constantly argues and fights your authority, refusing to follow the rules of your home? When the number for their school shows up on your caller ID, do you cringe in fear of what trouble they're in now? When you have an oppositional, defiant child, it's painful... Read more »
Are you wondering if you are being too strict with your child? Do your kids make you feel like an ogre when you set limits? Does the word “no” kick off whining, yelling and protests? How many times have you heard your nine-year-old say something like: “That’s not fair! Brandon’s mom lets him watch Sons... Read more »
When you look at kids and people in general, it's easy to see that we all have differences in how our brains are wired and work. As a parent, you see these differences between your children every day. Your son is great at figuring out how long it will take him to write that English... Read more »
On the Empowering Parents Facebook page we asked parents to share the one day-to-day thing they find most frustrating about their kids. The overwhelming answer? “I have to tell my kid five times to do the simplest thing! Every single day, it’s a battle. I want to tell him once and have him march off... Read more »