So many of us think (or say), "I would be more patient if my child would just do what I ask the first time I ask..." or "I wouldn't raise my voice if my kids didn't fight..." Often without realizing it, as parents we are letting our children's behavior control our behavior. In this week's podcast, you’ll learn tips to stay in control of yourself, even when you are unhappy with your child's behavior, mood, or attitude.

While I’ve shared a lot of parenting strategies on this podcast, in this 100th episode I’m going to share some tools that I use to maintain my own parenting long game… even though much of what I teach doesn’t come naturally to me. I will tell you how I maintain my cool (most of the time), despite the fact that I am very sensitive to my kids, both of whom have pretty big emotions! In this episode, I also request that if you haven’t done so yet, please subscribe and rate the podcast so that I can reach more people with the (hopefully valuable) parenting tips that I share.

When you face negative situations, you probably try your best to turn things around. But sometimes no matter what you try, things remain negative, issues pile up... and you may start to feel stuck in Yuck. In this episode, you’ll learn why we often get stuck in negative cycles and how you can break free -- even if others aren’t helping or you’re tackling multiple situations at once.

When you’re raising a child with someone else, you’re likely to disagree on how to handle situations. Sometimes when you have to make a decision about how to respond to your child, most of the energy is spent with each of you trying to convince the other why you are right and they are wrong. In this episode, you’ll learn what makes it so hard to compromise in these conversations… and what you can do to get on the same page when it comes to doing what’s best for your child.

Some of the most commonly used discipline strategies are behavior charts, rewards, and punishments… But what happens when you try them and they’re not effective in motivating better behavior? In this episode, you’ll learn why some children don’t respond to charts or point systems and what you can do instead to ensure that children act responsible, even when they don’t feel like it.

When we speak to people, we want them to listen and to engage with us. But often we ask our children questions, or make suggestions, and we are met with disrespect or even resistance. In this episode, you’ll learn what you may be doing that is contributing to that resistance and how you can turn conversations (and even your relationship) around.

It makes our lives easier when children don’t insist that things need to go their way….when they can go with the flow. But often children who don’t insist on things going a certain way ALSO don’t ask for what they do need. And they may not stand up for themselves to others -- siblings, friends, peers, or even adults -- when necessary. In this episode, you’ll learn why children may not stand up for themselves (even when you’ve told them how important it is and taught them what to say!) and how you can teach them to become more assertive so they know (and show) that they matter too.

We know that part of being a parent is paying attention to and spending time with our children. But in some cases, no matter how much attention we give them, they always want more! In this episode, you’ll learn why some children seem to have a never-ending need for attention. You’ll also learn why you don’t have to be their full-time entertainer and what you can do instead when children demand more than you have to give. 

Many parents believe in respectful parenting strategies, but they worry -- or their friends or family members warn them -- that these strategies will handicap children in the future. After all, not everyone will treat them with respect, and they need to be prepared for a harsh world out there! In this episode, you’ll learn why respectful parenting strategies foster more resilience, not less.  You’ll also learn the action you can take to set your children up for success, in even the most challenging environments... while still treating them with respect. 

We all have to provide instruction to our children -- setting limits, letting them know when they’ve done something wrong, suggesting ways to do things differently in the future. But some children get very upset about this type of feedback; they may become defensive or angry, become overly apologetic, or say mean things about themselves. In this episode, you’ll learn why some children have such a difficult time with these messages (no matter how nicely we say them), how to respond to their reactions, and how you can foster resilience so they can handle the fact that they will hear a lot of “criticism” in their lifetime.