1. There's no such thing as nap when the baby naps. This was something that was reiterated to me over and over. Pre-baby this was the biggest piece of advice I heard. I knew that as a new mom I would be tired and so I held on to this advice truly believing that it would solve all of my sleep woes. It didn't. In fact, this was the worst piece of advice for me. Now, I get that everyone was well meaning and had … [Read more...] about What I wish I knew as a New Mom…
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How to End Dinner Battles
Ahhh, dinner battles. Or for some parents, mealtime struggles. You know the routine: "Sit down. Two more bites. Close your mouth. Chew please. Sit back down. No dessert. That wasn't a bite. Don't spit out your food like that. Chew please. Stop bugging your brother. Sit down." Now, take a deep breath. Close your eyes and imagine your family nicely seated around the table. Everyone is polite and calm. You discuss … [Read more...] about How to End Dinner Battles
10 “Permission Slips” for Parents to Sign
A permission slip is a small piece of paper where someone (usually a parent/caregiver) gives someone else (a kid) permission to do something. If you have children in school, you are probably familiar with these small slips of paper. But a permission slip is not just for school. As parents, we need to give ourselves permission too. Brené Brown shares this strategy in her Dare to Lead programs. She focuses … [Read more...] about 10 “Permission Slips” for Parents to Sign
Sitting in Discomfort: How to allow ALL feelings
How do you feel when your child hits, kicks, cries, whines or yells? They are expressing difficult emotions. It makes sense to want to stop the behavior, but what are we accomplishing in the process? Of course we want the annoying behavior to end but in doing so we send a concerning message: "I'm not okay with your uncomfortable feeling." Managing your uncomfortable feelings Anger. Anxiety. Jealousy. Sadness. … [Read more...] about Sitting in Discomfort: How to allow ALL feelings
How to Teach Emotions
Emotions matter. The ability to understand your anxiety will help you focus better on a daunting work task. Understanding your partner's point of view will enable you to constructively handle conflict. Managing your anger when your child hits allows you to remain calm and not join in the chaos. Emotional intelligence (or sometimes called the emotional intelligence quotient, EQ) is the ability to identify and … [Read more...] about How to Teach Emotions
What you need as a parent and where to start
Have you ever tried to remain calm while hungry or tired? Or attempt to enforce a limit (sorry kids, no ice cream tonight) after a long, stressful day at work? It probably didn't end well. This is because you're lower level basic needs weren't met. And if you don't have the necessary amount of "fuel," it's hard to be your best self. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs In 1943, Abraham Maslow created the … [Read more...] about What you need as a parent and where to start
