As we get closer to the end of the school year — with extra activities and schedule changes — are you experiencing more behavior issues with your child?  

This is an issue that is coming up with a number of the families that I’m coaching.  Parents are showing up for coaching meetings in a bit of a panic because the outbursts are unpredictable and seem to be ramping up.  I had one mom reach out with a ‘911’ call because b...

Is your child easily frustrated, having meltdowns, or giving up as soon as things get challenging?  Do you tiptoe around your child, not sure what will set them off?

I had a set of parents tell me last night that they’re so tired of the drama and fights with their son.  When things don’t go his way, he quickly escalates.  The day we met he had a meltdown over his mother asking him to put his water bottle into his backpac...

As parents, most of us work hard to keep our kids physically healthy.  We make sure they get to their physicals every year, we feed them nutritious food, and we take them to the doctor when they’re sick.  But have you ever really thought about how to support your child’s mental health?

Children’s mental health is just as important as their physical health, and the CDC reports that as many as 1 out of 5 children experienc...

Can you describe the love you feel for your child?  

I don’t know about you, but I actually have a hard time putting into words the depth of love that I have for my kids.  Becoming a mother changed me like nothing else, and watching my kids grow into considerate and caring young adults has been both a joy and privilege.

For many of us, the love that we have for our children knows no bounds.  We love them through the ups...

What does raising a mentally healthy child mean to you?  For many parents, it means raising kids that generally feel good and positive.  Unfortunately, this definition can have parents trying to protect their children from “negative” feelings and challenging situations, and detract from their developing mental strength and resilience.

As a coach for parents of kids struggling with BIG Feelings, many clients come to me wo...

Do you ever stop to think that it might be a good thing when your child challenges you?  My daughter was particularly strong willed as a child and did not always cooperate easily.  To be completely honest, I did not think that it was a good thing at the time.  I wanted her to listen and cooperate more often, but she truly had a mind of her own.

The battles I remember most were over her clothes, and they started before sh...

Do you struggle to get your kids to listen?  A Mom at a recent workshop shared her frustration around her daughter not listening to her, and I could see other parents nodding their heads because they struggle with the same thing.

When parents are struggling with getting kids to listen, they are typically looking for tips and strategies for their kids.  As a coach, I know that how the parent responds to their child will h...

When you ask your child to do something, do they respond by yelling?  I had a Mom tell me that her biggest issue is that her son’s first reaction to anything he doesn't like is to yell, and I can share that she is definitely not alone in this struggle.  

As a coach for parents that are struggling with kids that have BIG feelings, I hear many parents tell me that their kids are defiant, difficult, and strong-willed.  They...

When your child isn’t listening or behaving as you would like, do you find yourself saying: 

If you don’t stop that you’re going to lose the iPad!
If you don’t listen, you can’t go on your playdate tomorrow. 

In my recent blog about threats, I shared how many parents end up using threats because they think their kids are out of control — but that’s not usually the case.  

We tend to use threats most often when we, as pa...

Do you know what single parenting habit would make the biggest impact and help you remain more in control in every single difficult situation that arises with your kids?

The answer might surprise you because it’s so simple.  

The parenting habit that enables you to remain more in control is the PAUSE.

The pause is when you add space between whatever your child says or does, and your response.  That space before you res...

When your child is frustrated or upset, how do you typically respond?  If you’re like me, you typically try to help fix whatever is causing the frustration or you try to help them see it from a different perspective.  We just want to help, but unfortunately that approach can often backfire.

This happened with me and my daughter over her college schedule.  She had worked with her advisor to pick out her classes, and ended...

In an average week, how much free time do your kids have to just play?  For many families and children, unstructured free time to play has decreased as practices, activities, lessons, and electronics have increased.  

As parents, we want what’s best for our kids and we think we are giving them a head start, but the research is telling a different story.  According to Boston College research professor Peter Gray, Ph.D, th...