My Child Calls Me “Mean Mom.” What Should I Do?
It’s a Monday morning, everyone is grumpy, and your child does not want to get out of bed. “You’re so mean!” your child shouts as you tell her it’s time to get up. “I hate
Why Does Parenting Feel So Hard?
Surely not one of us reading this set out thinking that parenting would be a breeze? We hear about sleep deprivation from the moment we announce that we are becoming parents. We know they’ll be
Tantrums: Should I Talk About Them With My Child?
Dear Hand in Hand I’ve worked really hard to support my daughter when she cries recently. When I hold her and tell her I’m listening she does come to a point when her tears clear,
How Play Helped When My Child Got Scared At Bedtime
My 6-year-old recently asked me to sleep next to her at bedtime. It was unusual because she usually has no problems going to sleep by herself. I thought that maybe she needed some connection time
3 of the Best Ways For Kids to Play
As they move from play dough to playground and from dress up to dodgeball, it may seem like our children spend their whole day playing. And that’s great. But some of the best ways to
Why Does My Child Always Want Mom?
Our son is nearly three years old. He still goes through some separation anxiety when he’s without his mom. We usually put him to bed together, but the other night, my wife needed a break.
Complaining Kids? Try This One Thing To Stop The Whining
One day, we were traveling by car six about hours away from our home town. I got food for the kids so they wouldn’t feel hungry during the ride, and they were soon tucking in.
Hold The Limit, Honor the Struggle: Homework Battles and How to Help
It’s the beginning of the school year, and as surely as leaves will drop, so will the homework. Pages and pages of it. Sometimes whole binders worth. Homework can be the source of many arguments,
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
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,