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.

When the same situation tends to not go well over and over, it can be helpful to make a plan for how you want to handle that situation differently in the future. And when you’re making your plans, it’s a good idea to include the actions you DON’T want to take -- things that you know from experience make the situation worse. In this episode, you’ll learn how a “to DON’T list” leads to less stress and negativity. You’ll also learn the benefits of creating that list… not just when it comes to responding to your kids, but even when it comes to setting expectations for yourself and others.

We want our kids to listen to us and do what they’re supposed to do, but often the way we try to teach them how to act responsible negatively affects our influence and our relationship. In this episode, you’ll learn a simple formula for how to be both firm AND respectful so that your children are more likely to do what you ask them to do...and internalize the lessons that you’re trying to teach.

While it can be valuable to learn parenting tips and tools, it can also be helpful to learn how to apply those tips and tools to real situations! In this episode, you’ll learn how to motivate children to focus on themselves instead of what their siblings are doing. You’ll also hear the answer to another question about how to convince children that they need to do what we ask them to do.

“Strong willed” behavior -- kids’ questioning,  negotiating, defying -- can be incredibly frustrating to deal with. And it makes sense that when we see that behavior, we try to get children to change. But that strategy is often ineffective, making us feel helpless to address the situation effectively. In this episode, you’ll learn why strong-willed behavior is actually a coping mechanism for children who have big feelings. You’ll also learn how understanding that connection can help you motivate more positive behavior and foster your child’s long-term resilience.

One of the things that exhausts us most as parents is having to deal with others’ big emotions -- especially when we’re dealing with them so frequently. Of course we always want to try to teach our kids tools to deal with their own emotions...but in the meantime, it is possible to feel less exhausted no matter how others around you are acting or feeling. In this episode, you’ll learn simple steps you can take to protect yourself from being depleted by others’ emotions.

We all want our children to feel good about themselves, and often we try to instill a sense of confidence by praising or complimenting them. Unfortunately, praise and compliments often lead to a sense of entitlement rather than healthy self-esteem. In this episode, you’ll learn the two components of healthy self-esteem as well as simple actions you can take to start to incorporate these concepts into your life.