The sixth and final device I suggested was to take the time to talk through the situation and find a solution that is agreeable to both of you. As your children age, this concept will become more and more important. Having a history of open communication with your child will help to lay the groundwork for a positive experience throughout adolescence.
The Growing Parent: Anger & Assertiveness
Assertiveness can be very difficult at times, but in all relationships the ability to communicate assertively lowers the likelihood of misunderstandings. Communicating with our children is no different. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell someone exactly what you want from him or her when you’re frustrated, so this often takes a tremendous amount of effort.
The Growing Parent: Anger & Keeping Your Cool
Most of us have the tendency to say things we later regret when we are angry. Unfortunately, those that are the closest to us get the brunt of that more often than we would like.
The Growing Parent: Anger & Negotiating
Clearly the parent is supposed to be in charge, and I’m not suggesting otherwise. In fact statistics even show us that well-defined boundaries result in the best outcome for raising children. However, both my clinical and personal experiences show that being willing to give a little sometimes can have a tremendous impact on your relationship with your children.
Nathan’s Story: Athletes & Suicide Prevention
Athletes can have a difficult time of transition because they spend their whole lives working toward a collegiate and professional career in their sport of choice. Every evening, weekend, and holiday are spent in the gym, the driveway, a game, or a tournament. All of this hard work developing skills is for the ultimate goal of a scholarship or a contract.
The Growing Parent: Anger & Listening
Make a point to listen to your child’s side of the story. This can often be extremely challenging for some parents, particularly when your child is clearly in the wrong. Nonetheless, it is extremely important for our children to feel confident that we are listening to them and understanding what they are trying to say.
Parenting Choices in an Instagram World
I read an amazing blog the other day of a parent who made difficult choices with his children about their Instagram and Facebook accounts. Note that I said “accounts” and not “account”. Parents are finding that there are hidden accounts on their childrens’ phones, iPads, and laptops.
The Growing Parent: Performance Night- A Way to Connect with Your Kids
“My job keeps me so busy that I feel like I have no clue what is going on in my daughter’s life. How can I reconnect with her to feel like I know who she is anymore?”
Helping Children Cope with Divorce
When parents decide to divorce, the decision can be difficult for children to cope with and understand. Children may react to the news very differently depending on their age. For example, a preschooler may have questions about who is going to feed the family pet or if they are still going to be able to play with their neighbor friend. But a teen may have questions about what happened in their parents relationship or if they will still be able to attend college.
Is my teen just being a teen…or is it something more?
The teen years are difficult because the young, innocent child you once knew is now on a mission to separate from the family and become their own person. Sometimes this shows up by the teen staying in their room most of the time, not wanting to spend as much time with the family, or being moody. These are all normal teen things, but how do you know when there is more going on?