Do you have a child that is an angel at school but turns into a hot mess as soon as they walk in the door at the end of the day?  If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s so common that it actually has a name — after-school restraint collapse — as coined by parent educator Andrea Loewen Nair.  

This is an issue that I often run into with the parents I work with.  Kids that...

With kids going back to school, do you wonder what mood they’re going to come home in at the end of the day and nervous about what you’re going to get?

When kids are little, most parents dread the “witching” hour that often happened later in the day.  As parents, we often want to wind down as the day goes on — but late afternoon to early evening is often when children are extra...

Is your child excited about the upcoming school year, are they a bundle of nerves, or are they dreading going back to school?  If you have a child entering a new stage at school or a  first-time college-bound teen they are likely experiencing a mix of all three!  Your child could be excited to see friends, but nervous about a new teacher, new sport or activities, or having schoolwork and homework again.

Do you have a child that’s nervous about going back to school?  Even when kids are excited, each year is new and unknown which can bring up back to school jitters and worries for many kids.  As parents, how we handle our child being nervous can have a major impact so it’s something that I coach and teach around often this time of year.

I invite you to take a minute and think about your typical...

Do you have a child that struggles when they’re faced with new situations?  Kids that struggle with big emotions also tend to struggle when dealing with new situations, and they can get testy and anxious as they get closer to going back to school.  

Although it may seem like going back to school is a way out, if you have a child that struggles with change I highly recommend that you start preparing...

Do you have a child that struggles with new situations or change? While some kids embrace new situations and look forward to them with excitement, others can resist change, and get testy and anxious as upcoming changes get closer.  Every child is wired differently, and it’s not uncommon to have one child breeze through new situations while the other struggles.  

I say this from personal experience...

Do you struggle figuring out the best way to parent?  Do you read articles and books, listen to podcasts, and talk to other parents looking for the best way to address challenges with your kids? 

In last week’s article I covered how perfect parenting is never the goal.  There is also no one best way to parent, because every child and every family is different.  

You are never going to be...

Do you beat yourself up when you have your own BIG feelings or lose it in front of your kids?

Please trust me when I share that you are NOT alone.  Many parents come to me because they don’t like who they are when they are with their kids.  I let them know up front that I can help them, but I’m also adamant that perfect parenting is NEVER the goal nor should it be.

If your kids never see you get...

Are you sick of all the schedules and routines by the end of the school year, and looking forward to more carefree summer days?  I remember being excited when the school year finally ended.  I was so happy not having to get up and pack lunches and snacks every morning, or run around after school to activities and sports.  But as the summer continued, the lack of routine would start to drive me crazy...

Do you dread hearing the words “I’m bored” from your kids?

I’ve had a couple of clients tell me they were at a loss of what to do when their kids complained of boredom.  I also see other parents avoiding this altogether by packing the schedule with back-to-back camps, sports, and other activities.

In an earlier blog, I discussed the benefits of giving children free time to play. ...

It’s summer…  and a time that many families take vacations together.  I don’t know about you, but I tended to go into a vacation thinking that I would unplug and unwind.  Unfortunately, what I typically imagined and reality were worlds apart.  Taking vacations as a family was often more stressful than work!  Can you relate?

Family vacations and traveling with kids can be...

If I asked you what you want your kids to believe about themselves, what would you tell me? As I work with parents and ask this question, I get different responses but most are relatively similar to my thoughts and what I want my own kids to believe. 

So I’m going to imagine that like me, you want your kids to believe that they are strong, capable, kind, and overall awesome.  You want them to believe...