When was the last time I hugged my big girl today? I’m not sure I had. I had spent the whole day carrying around my 3-week-old, only touching my 3-year-old to lift her up and down from the counter when we were baking, and when I was gently moving her away from covering her brother’s […]
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Favorites from this past week! 9/15/16
Good morning! It’s Thursday and we’re about to head into the weekend! Here are a few things I’ve found this week that I thought were worth the read…let me know what you think. Empower the Child Through Language ~ this is a really sweet article on the importance of using real names and words (as opposed […]
Grandma’s Law
Have you ever said to your child, “You can’t have dessert unless you finish your dinner”? Or maybe something similar along those lines? There’s a name for that particular strategy: The Premack Principle. The Premack Principle states that high probability behaviors can be used to reinforce low probability behaviors. What does this mean? It means […]
The Power of Talking-it-Through
My daughter is 3 now. Which means we’re handling a whole host of new scenarios and challenges… and the term ‘threenager’ often floats though my head. But really, she’s just continuing to become her own person, discovering herself and her personality, experimenting with things she likes, doesn’t like, and trying very hard to be more […]
A Little Parable for Mothers
(I found this parable, typed on a worn, yellowed paper, in my Grandmother’s home, when we were cleaning after moving her to assisted living. She passed away in July, 2015.) The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is the way long?” she asked. And her guide said: “Yes. And the way […]
Ask yourself, “What’s the GOOD?”
Does your child ever engage in challenging behavior and you are at your wits end trying to solve it? It can be so frustrating trying to figure out what is causing the yelling, screaming, throwing, and so on while at the same time trying so hard to stop it from happening. What do you do? […]
How to Teach Your Child to be a Bully (in 5 easy steps)
Step 1: Take something away from your child that she worked hard for and cares about. Step 2: Taunt her and tell her what you did, and make it seem as though she will never get back what had been hers. Step 3: Laugh at her when she becomes so upset and distraught she begins […]
Who benefits from ‘time-out?’
You. You (the parent/caregiver) benefit from sending a child to time out. You’re the only one who does. Let’s face it, it gives you a reprieve from whatever ‘bad’ behavior they were engaging in… a chance to clean up the huge mess made with the toilet paper and shaving cream. But don’t think it’s actually […]
How to Say “No” Without Actually Saying “No”
Have you ever heard of Yes Days? It’s when you designate a day to just saying “yes” to whatever your child suggests or requests. There can be rules, obviously, like putting limits on spending, or distances travelled. But have you ever tried it? When we say “yes” we open ourselves to more possibilities. Not to […]
Adultism: The Missing Link
What is adultism?