"One could be excused if she were to come away from reading this blog with the idea that I'm not just pro-child, but also at least a little anti-adult. This is not true. After all, I am an adult myself. I like being an adult. In fact, if my fairy godmother presented me with a choice, I'd opt for adulthood in a heartbeat. There are certainly things I admire about children, like their boundless energy, short memories, and their ability to live for the moment, but I wouldn't trade away my adult advantages for any of it. Like I sometimes say to the kids, 'The best thing about being an adult is that you get to eat ice cream whenever you want.'"

Click here to read the rest of this article on Teacher Tom's Blog.

"One of the things that makes parenting so tough is that we don’t always see the effects of what we do straight away. Sometimes, getting it right can look the same as getting it wrong, and other times they can masquerade as each other. Are our boundaries too loose? Too tight? Do our words nurture their growth? Make them question their worth? Is this a time for consequences? Connection? How do I have both? "

Click here to read the rest of this article on heysigmund.com.

"The volcano has exploded. The floodgates are wide open. Your child is experiencing – and expressing – some BIG emotions.
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Your first instinct is to try to silence it: “Settle down. Calm down. You’re fine.”

Unfortunately, saying “calm down” when your child is crying or angry never works. Thankfully, there are ways you can support your upset child even when they are experiencing big feelings. Print these listening tips so you can reference them in the heat of the moment!"

Click here to see the rest of this great article on ImperfectFamilies.com.

"The second I walk in the door, she’s on my heels. Showing me a thousand pictures, talking non-stop about her day, balancing on one foot, then the other. If I’m distracted, she might mix things up a little. Pulling on my sweater, singing at the top of her lungs, or whining.

She wants my attention.

But she wants more than just my gaze, she wants to be seen.

Dropping his backpack with a thud, he plops on the couch. No words, just grunts, shrugs, and “I don’t know” when I ask about his day. I feel frustrated. Fine, if you don’t want to talk, I’ll go in the other room and do one of the fifty tasks piled up in there.

He doesn’t say it, but he wants my attention too.
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He wants more than my patronizing words and half-hearted attempts at communication, he wants to be seen."

Click here to read the rest of this post by Nicole Schwartz on ImperfectFamilies.com.