My father-in-law gave my husband profound advice instead of ‘the talk.’ He told his son to go to the playground and the other kids would give him answers to any questions he had. And that’s how the father of my children learned about sex. I asked my adult kids if …
How to Keep Santa Magical… Without Lying!
Many parents wonder if there is a way to include Santa in their holiday traditions without lying to their children. This is such a sensitive subject because it messes with the adult’s childhood memories. We are reaching a time of consciousness where more parents than ever are wondering how to create …
Challenges Come Wrapped in Unique Packages
Parenting is humbling. It can reduce successful, professional adults into a state of irritability, confusion, and self-doubt. It can trigger negative feelings in the most spiritually oriented seekers. The daily challenges can turn love and adoration into a cycle of worry and control. Parenting kicks up our deepest wounds and …
Authentic Parenting = Giving Up Control
What legacy can you give your child? “Beautiful Energy, Source of my child’s creation, You trusted me to be the parent of this unique and wondrous being, please guide me; fill my mind and my heart with inspiration so that I may be the parent this child needs me to …
Intentional Parenting
What is Intentional Parenting? It is acting with knowledge and purpose, ensuring that young children acquire the social, emotional and cognitive skills needed to succeed in school and in life. Intentional Parenting goes beyond love. You can love your children and still create an environment of chaos, disorder, mistrust, shame …
7 Ways to Enrich Your Children’s Self-Esteem
1. WORK ON YOUR OWN SELF-ESTEEM: It is hard to give our children what we do not have ourselves. Our words do not teach. It is what you model and children experience that become their truth. 2. TAKE YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STUFF THAT ANNOYS OR WORRIES YOU: …
The Illusion of Power
Each of us experiences thoughts and emotions that trigger us to disconnect from our sense of balance and clarity. Most parents believe that it is their children’s behavior that is responsible for the way they think and feel. This illusion gives all the power for our happiness over to our …
Words Do Not Teach
This weekend I had the privilege of meeting an amazing dad. Our chance interchange happened as I was walking through the booths of a local photography exhibit. I stopped to admire some photos and the man started to tell me about his work. He said he had always loved …
Flashes of Connectedness
Parents often brush their child’s cries for validation of their worth aside. Adults are so focused on their own issues that they forget to appreciate the essence of the child’s perceptions. We can become so consumed with the pressures of modern living, earning money, and getting our own needs met …
Love and Accept Them
Whenever I meet someone who is creative, artistic, or moving through life to the beat of a somewhat different drum, I wonder what it was like to be that person’s mother. Just in case you are, indeed, the parent of a child who might experience the world a bit differently …
The Pleasure of Be-ing
I have a routine in the early morning that includes sipping a cup of coffee while checking my emails. Usually my dog is content to eat his breakfast and curl up on the floor while I’m deep in concentration. This morning he seemed to be off a bit… whining… wanting …
If Only…
If only the kids would act differently, I’d feel better.” We also think “if only my mate, my friend, my sibling, my parent, my governor, my president would act differently I would feel better.” Whenever we turn our well being over to the actions of someone else we have given …
Giving Away Our Power
“If only the kids would act differently, I’d feel better.” We also think, “If only my partner, my friend, my sibling, my parent, my boss, my president would act differently I would feel better.” Whenever we turn our well being over to the actions of someone else we have given …
The Myth of Perfection
I just came in from working in my garden. I usually leave the pruning and planting up to the talents of my husband but my perfectionist tendencies kicked in and I could no longer feel appreciation for the beauty that prevailed. I was immersed in noticing what needed to be …
10 Best Practices for Encouraging Positive Behavior
1. Set up consistent, predictable routines. Be careful not to confuse this with being rigid. You are aiming for a safe and nurturing environment where children know what to expect. 2. Have clear, consistent, age appropriate expectations. Children will push, test and manipulate when boundaries are inconsistent or …
Mantras for Parents
When we generate an attitude of gratitude wondrous things begin to happen because the Universe matches the energy of the feelings that come from thinking that way. Appreciation is like a GIANT MAGNET that brings more positives into our lives. Here are some mantras you can use to affirm a positive …
We Are The Role Models
In recent days there have been many reactions to a mom who blogged that her family was ‘canceling Christmas’ because her children’s recent behavior was disrespectful and entitled. During an interview with “Good Morning America” the children agreed that they were hitting, fighting and even having tantrums and when asked …