The holidays are upon us and the season of giving can sometimes turn into the season of “gimmies” for our kids. As much as we try to explain to them that the holidays are not only about receiving toys upon toys, it can be hard to manage their expectations when they get bombarded by all the tempting commercials, toy catalogs, and store displays. So, how can we manage these gift expectations during the holidays? We want to be able to …
The superpower all parents need…
If you are struggling to find just enough energy to get through the day, or feeling like you have to rush about with little time to eat (or take a deep breath) in between “what’s next,” then you are probably not showing up as your best self. This is a hard truth to swallow, and it feels near impossible to pull it all off without dropping a few balls here and there. I get it. It’s still hard for me to this day. All we want is to provide and give …
5 Reasons to Calm Down About Screen-Time
Screen-time is definitely a touchy subject for parents. How much is too much? What is good screen-time and what is bad screen-time? There’s so much information out there it can be overwhelming to even begin to sift through it all. And then the guilt as a parent sets in as you wonder if you’re doing this whole screen-time-monitoring-thing right. I recently wrote an article on “screen-control” (which you can read here) that gives some easy tips that you can apply in your home now to reduce the stress that screen-time can bring. On the flipside, I …
A smile is life-changing
I thought we’d keep it light again this week 🙂 Did you enjoy the memes from last week’s email? Laughter really is a powerful form of healing. The more we have of it in our lives, the better off we are! Parenting is probably the most challenging job any adult can have. Without support from other parents who understand the struggles and triumphs that come with children, the path can feel very lonely. But we have each other in our …
Keep calm, and have a laugh
Okay, so I know we’ve had some big topics the past few weeks, that I hope have helped you work through different struggles and come to some epiphanies around parenting and the stories we are telling ourselves. So today, I thought we’d keep it light and keep the laughter coming. And what better way to do that than with memes, right? Some of these are my own, and others I just had to share because they are so true, and …
Are you yelling too soon?
Acting out. We all know this story very well. And we may even think that our children are the only ones that act out this often, or on this level. Don’t fear, your children are not the only ones. Each child has their reasons for misbehavior or moments where they just can’t hold it together anymore and they act out. It’s part of childhood. Have you asked your parents recently about your childhood misbehavior? I’m sure they have some stories …
LOVE your calendar!
Don’t stress the schedule… If you’re like me, just the thought of looking at your calendar can create a sense of anxiety. Many of us have our days filled — from the moment we wake up, until our head thankfully hits the pillow at night. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is a sense of great accomplishment when you are able to put all of the puzzle pieces together and get everyone’s schedules in sync. That’s the beauty of …
Don’t Stress It!
As young kids we often imagine what it will be like when we have a family of our own. Who will we marry? Will we have a big house? How many kids will we have? What will life be like? When we do meet that special someone, or get married, or move into the house, or start the family, while great and amazing in its own way, it’s often not what we dreamt of as a child. Reality sets in …
Do you feel lonely, sometimes?
Parenthood can feel lonely sometimes, can’t it? Even with our spouses by our side, or especially if we are a single parent, raising children is no easy task and we can sometimes retreat, rather than reach out, when we struggle as parents. This is something we ALL go through at some point. As a mom of two boys, I’ve been there many times myself. I worry about my children, question some of my actions and reactions, and can certainly get …
3 Ways to Say “No” Without the Battle
“NO” can be one of the most difficult, yet most liberating, words to say. But nowadays, with the word “no” comes the connotation that you’re being unfair, selfish, or stubborn, and can give you that lingering feeling that you’re letting your children down. When, in fact, it can be just the opposite! The key is figuring out when to say “no” – and then sticking to it! If “NO” is a word that instinctively makes you squirm or curl-up into …