Your Village

11/06/2024

Seriously, this kid. So mature beyond his mere 15 years. Yes, I’m taking credit for a job well done. I’ve poured my heart and soul into raising amazing humans and it shows. ❤️❤️❤️

10/27/2024

What does my relationship with my 15 year old son look like? It’s one of a mentor, a guide and a teacher. All the years of respectful discipline and connection has led to exactly where I wanted and envisioned, a well-adjusted teen who is independent but still looks to me and trusts me to guide him when he needs it. I hear so much about contention and how it’s “normal” between teens and parents. It might be common. But it’s not healthy. Relationships with our kids can get better every year. “Bad” years or “dramatic” years are not par for the course. If you want great connection and to have a positive influence on your teens, it’s totally possible! This is just one example of the way I support his goals every day and that builds a deeper bond and trust in my guidance. 😊❤️🔥

05/12/2024

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who pour their heart and souls into raising incredible kids and supporting their dreams. This is not for weak!

This is not an easy road and we’re just getting started. He’s hit the “plays amazing during practice but is a completely different player at matches” stage. It’s been so hard to watch. It’s been a total learning journey for us both. We’ve learned this is a very common stage and now the work is to help him learn to relax and play at tournaments like he does during practice. So we’re hitting tournament season pretty hard over the next few months. He struggled during round of 16 yesterday. But went into consolation round today and won the finals 8-0.

05/12/2024

Kids are so much more capable than we often give them credit for. When we give room to explore and learn, they grow self-confidence and skills we likely never imagined!

04/24/2024

And guide your children in such a way that they feel free to be the weediest of weeds!! ❤️❤️❤️

04/04/2024

Over the years, many parents have come to me wanting guidance on how to talk to their kids about serious issues happening in their family: moves, death, divorce, financial woes, family members going to jail, infidelity. Parents want to know how much to share with their kids and how to present their particular issue in ways that are honest but not overwhelming (as much as possible)

So this week, I give parents two concepts to use as guideance when talking to kids about anything, whether it's difficult family news or just communicating needs and expectations, in the latest episode of Parenting Beyond Discipline. The episode Family Ties: Strategies for Open Communication with Kids About Home & Life Challenges just released this morning. ​

This will be a 2 part series as this week's episode is the basics of setting a framework for sharing information. Next week will be details on how you might want to have discussions around specific topics at several different ages.

Listen to Parenting Beyond Discipline on:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify

‎Kids & Family · 2024

04/03/2024

While some parenting can follow simple strategies that will work well in teaching and guiding, every child has their own unique struggles and strengths. The beauty (and challenge) in parenting well is in the flexibility it takes to not fall into patterns. Hence getting an opportunity to expand and grow ourselves! This also often comes as a surprise too! Hang on for a fun ride!

02/28/2024

I love this so much. When we approach children (or anyone) with curiosity and understanding, it can completely change an interaction from one of potential contention to connection and cooperation.

02/28/2024

An oldie but goodie popped up today. Oh this face. So handsome then and now. 😍 the lips. The eyes. The cheeks. I do miss those smooth cheeks. He’s all stubbly and teenagery now. 🤣