Helping My Teenage Son Work Through Stifled Feelings
Wednesday, April 24 2013
My 13-year-old son was off track in a way that doesn’t happen often. I asked him to turn off the TV in order to shift to bedtime mode at 9pm on a Sunday, and he
Tag: listening time
A Shark Attack on my Child’s Feelings
Sunday, April 7 2013
I took my boys, 6 and 7, to the Museum of Natural History to see a 3D movies about marine dinosaurs. The youngest is especially sensitive to traumatic events in movies and games, so I
Breaking “Bad” News
Saturday, March 30 2013
When my 6-year-old son began the first grade in a new school district, school went from being easy to being a big challenge for him both socially and academically. Being the youngest in his class
When I Grow Up Will You Recognize Me?
Thursday, January 24 2013
When my son was 4 he went through a period when he was very resistant to getting dressed. It didn’t matter if he was dressing himself or if I offered to help him, it was
Confessions of a Parenting by Connection Nanny: Part I
Thursday, November 29 2012
On the one hand, I realize the important role a nanny plays in a child’s life; the effects of which–for better or for worse–will stay with the child for many years to come. On the other
Calm Parenting for Grumpy Mornings
Friday, October 26 2012
One morning, my 3-year-old said, “I am my brother, not me,” while I was busy getting my older son ready for school. Ah, a sign of a storm brewing, I thought. I squatted at his
“I Hate Oatmeal!”
Saturday, October 6 2012
My husband was making a pot of oatmeal for breakfast last weekend, and it was time for the family to come to the table. But our 8-year-old son saw that the oatmeal wasn’t the kind
Stupid F*(&#! Pillow!
Tuesday, September 25 2012
My daughter, who is 7, had trouble separating at bedtime, and went through a period of crying every bedtime, without relief or change, when she wasn’t allowed to sleep in my bed. I let her
Not Liking Her Father’s New Partner
Tuesday, September 11 2012
I told my daughter that another parent from her school would be taking her into school that day because we carpool. She was upset and cranky about it for 45 minutes, and wanted me to
Overnight with my Daughter and her Best Friend
Friday, July 13 2012
My daughter asked to bring her girlfriend with us overnight to Sonoma where we planned to spend one night in a hotel with a pool. Bringing an extra person would change the easy-going relaxation day
Sleeping in His Own Bed All Night
Sunday, July 8 2012
My son has co-slept with me since he was born. When he was about 18 months old, I bought him his own bed with the plan to move him into it so I could have
Helping my Daughter Cry
Saturday, June 30 2012
After school one day, my daughter, who is 7, and I had some time together on our own and went out for a hot chocolate. In the café, as we talked about various things, she
A Little Listening Cleared Up the Vision
Monday, June 18 2012
A sweet 9-year-old student whom I tutor came in the other day in a somewhat low-key mood. He got ready to do the math that I had planned for him. We were working on calculating
A Little Listening Can Move Mountains
Wednesday, March 28 2012
Sometimes we don’t realize the effect we can have on people, simply through our listening (or not listening). I was moved by how a little listening can move mountains.
Listening Makes All The Difference In The World
Friday, March 16 2012
I heard a very touching story in one of my classes recently. We were talking about the value of listening to our children’s strong emotions, and I asked if anyone had been listened to in