Why Our Dog’s Gift To Us In Dying Was Closeness
After 28 years of being together, my husband and I divorced. My son and two daughters were in their teens. The divorce and the years leading up to it had been very painful for each
When I Couldn’t Stop Yelling
I was excited to become a mother, but I didn’t have any idea what I was in for. I thought that parenting would be lots of love and gently guiding my child. I thought that
Surprise! Holiday Meltdowns Are Actually A Good Thing
Your child will have big feelings when a special holiday or birthday comes up. It’s one of the phenomena you can set your clock by. We parents wish the universe were governed by forces
Parenting As A Team Part Three: When to Invest, When to Deflect
A Guest Post from Megha Mawandia Yesterday we introduced Step Two: Using Humor to Diffuse Tension. Today we look at when to explain your parenting approach in a bid to get your values supported, and
Three-Steps to Parenting As a Team
A Guest Post from Megha Mawandia You may have heard the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” No doubt, it is a beautiful thing for a child to be able to spend
Unexplained Crying May Come from an Emotional Need
With Laura Minnigerode You thought you’d covered everything. It’s late in the day, your baby is fed, healthy, and their diaper is changed, you’ve jiggled and jostled them until you are exhausted, and they
Why Crying Helps Calm Fearful Children
A guest post by Laura Minnigerode Children’s brains are wired to connect with caregivers. And if they cry it means they feel especially safe and secure. Since a child’s limbic system works brilliantly to
Listening to Little Kids Helps Them Sleep
By Laura Minnigerode Carmela is 21 months old, and a student in my classroom in a community college lab school. Because she loves to play and is not as sleepy as many of the other
Troubling Behavior: How to Take On an Emotional Project
An emotional project is a set of persistent feelings or behaviors that come up for your child again and again. When the same feeling or behavior is triggered many times in somewhat similar situations (like
Five Tools That Radically Transformed A Mom’s Relationship with Her Aggressive Son
Sarah would brace herself for the onslaught of hitting, punching, and threats that usually followed her five-year-old son’s glare. “He had a lot of fear and anger,” says the mom of two. He’d head butt
Connected Parenting Approach Reaches Across the Divides
How do I control my angry child? Why won’t my baby sleep? What should I do about toddler tantrums? How do I build a strong bond with my tween? Parenting doesn’t come with a manual,
Sushila Hart
Sushila Hart lives in Marin County, 1 hour North of San Francisco. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and an Early Childhood Education Certificate for several hours of ECE studies. She has many years
Parenting Across Social, Racial, and Economic Gaps
Here’s a little question: …What’s going well for you? It’s a simple enough question and one that can bring a moment’s lightness when your day feels heavy. It’s also a question we ask a lot
Special Time Helps Children Heal Hidden Fears
by MarÃa Ignacia del RÃo Silva Read this post in Spanish One winter day, when my 6-year-old son was in kindergarten, I was – once again -surprised by the tremendous power he has to do “Special
Parents, One Way To Quiet Your Crazy Inner Voice
I was chatting with a friend that has recently taken a Hand in Hand course of mine. She commented that since doing the course she feels like I am an extra voice in her head, and
Some Staylistening Success Helped my Baby Son Take Naps
 A Guest Post By Lisa Tripp My six-month-old son, has had some challenges falling asleep for naps for several months, but the challenges have gotten easier and sleep has gotten more flexible for him
What To Do When Your Child Won’t Nap
How often have you told your child that it’s naptime only to be met with complete disapproval? We know our children benefit from a rest midday, and may of us look forward to that window, either
Five Truths Every New Parent Should Know
No matter how many books you read, how many people you talk to, holding your new baby in your arms is a life-changing moment. Depending on the birth experience you have, you may be elated