Do you parent fairly or equally?
A few years in, I realized that experiment was a terrible choice. I had two very different children that required different parenting. By treating them equally, I wasn’t giving them what they needed most from me. Different isn’t better or worse. It simply means different. For example, my oldest was very quiet, compliant, thoughtful, and […]
Why Disciplining Your Teen Isn’t Working
When your teen makes a mistake, it may have more serious consequences than a few years earlier. As a parent, you feel like you’re losing your mind, stranded between the role of friend and dictator, and frustrated by the ineffectiveness of both. Why does this feel so complicated?! When your default ways don’t work and […]
If you want to be a parent, get a puppy first
Hearing people spread their unhealed pain around on the daily that ties directly back to dysfunctional family relationships makes me want to scream! I want to shut down all procreation and parenting without explicit permission. Parenting in a Dystopian future. Year #1 – You’re in therapy to help heal all of your generational past pain […]
Fix your relationships without the work!
Imagine you could fix your relationships problems with a pill or paste! All your relationship problems would be fixed, and you’d never have to create awareness, learn new skills, or try new behaviours. You’d get to keep your stories about being nice AND have people read your mind. Guess what? That movie hasn’t been made […]
Clean your room or else!
I’ve said it, and I’m sure you have too. That moment of frustration when you just want your darling child to do as you’re asking before you lose your sh*t like Sigourney Weaver birthing the alien. You’ve asked your teen nicely a few times to clean their room and each time you get, “Ya, mom” […]
It’s not my turn!
https://youtu.be/wYGQrcYhH5A I was a Pinterest Mom before it started for creating a chore chart on the fridge when our boys were young. Age appropriate chores were written out and divided up as our boys proudly marked off the boxes, creating a visual indication of their growing independence with colorful stickers worthy of an Instagram post. […]
Why can’t you be more like (fill in the blank)?
An orange and a lemon. Both fruit. So they should be the same, right? Wrong. https://youtu.be/aLYiYTWiWGI The orange is sweeter and rounder. The lemon is tart and has pointy ends. So why would we judge and condemn these for their differences and expect them to be the same? When they’re on the receiving end of […]
The school called. Now what?
https://youtu.be/-EfAPQM335g Before you go off the deep end, take a deep breath. Parents have an unspoken expectation that their children are a reflection of their most enlightened selves. All your good qualities on display in a smaller, younger person. Our children make bad choices just like adults do so taking this personally won’t help. Number […]
The Problem with Mothers and Daughters
https://youtu.be/HII9If_Usy8 “Congratulations on your baby girl! She’s beautiful. As she grows up, remember this… They’ll never be a relationship more important to her than the one she has with you. Every word you speak to her will become her truth. Her job isn’t to help you heal your past with your mom. It’s your job […]
We Can’t Have it Both Ways
https://youtu.be/nNnq3bSYc_0 We can’t have it both ways. We don’t get to complain about the younger generation being lazy and entitled when we’re not going to teach them things at home. If we want them to stand up and take responsibility for their lives and be accountable, then we, as parents need to teach them those […]