Guilt and parenthood just seem to go together. Maybe you lost control and screamed at your child today. Or perhaps you’re struggling to give your kids enough. Or you might even be worrying that you’re doing too much for your child. Whatever the cause, most parents experience guilt regularly. I’ve talked with so many parents... Read more »
"My kids are driving me crazy! They are so manipulative I can't stand it!" Does this sound familiar? Or how about these: "My middle schooler blackmails me emotionally – he cries that I don't care about him and that I love his brother more when I ask him to stop playing video games. He's more... Read more »
Let’s face it, we all have things we don’t want to do, and we put them off until the last possible moment. Paperwork. House-cleaning. Those things that need to get done whether we really want to do them or not. It’s normal for grown-ups to choose fun things over required tasks –and it’s normal for... Read more »
I’ve spoken with quite a few parents over the past couple of months on the parent coaching service who have been struggling with a son or daughter who decided they didn’t want to go to college. Many of these parents have said they feel a sense of disappointment and failure, almost like they are to blame for this change of... Read more »
“You know the kid that no one wants to play with? The kid who stands alone at recess or lunch? Who never gets invited to birthday parties? That’s my kid. And it breaks my heart.” When a child is aggressive toward others—hitting, screaming, pushing, throwing things—the natural response of others is to avoid this child.... Read more »
For many parents, getting their kids to do their homework is a nightly struggle. Some kids refuse to do their homework. Others claim that they don't have homework, but then the report card comes out, and you realize that their work was not being done. So why is homework time so difficult? In my opinion,... Read more »
Every parent gets mad and says things in the heat of the moment that they regret—nobody’s perfect, and there is no such thing as a perfect parent. At one time or another, most parents also report feeling like their teen is not listening to them. You wonder why what you’re saying doesn’t seem to have any effect—it goes “in ... Read more »
Homework, chores, TV, computer time, bedtime: are each of these areas potential land mines that can start a fight with your child each night? If you answer that question with a “yes,” you’ve already taken the first step toward making things better. You’ve recognized that there is a pattern of behavior and interaction... Read more »
Do you have a kid who doesn't care about consequences? If so, this dad's story probably sounds more than familiar to you: “I’ve done everything I can think of to get my teen to follow just the simple rules. I took away his Xbox. I unplugged the TV and removed the cord. The internet was shut off indefinitely (thank goodness I still have my... Read more »
Many parents struggle with their just-turned-18, newly-minted adult children refusing to follow house rules and waving the, "I'm an adult. You can't tell me what to do," banner every time the parent confronts an issue of broken rules or disrespect. For many families, the transition from adolescence into adulthood is one of the more difficult ones for both parent... Read more »