Dare to Parent

There are 4 goals of behavior in all of us:
1. Contact
2. Power
3. Protection
4. Withdrawl

If your child is acting out and you are feeling frustrated, take a step back and ask yourself, "What is it my child needs right now?"

Does he need some 1:1 time?

Is he feeling like everything is out of his control, so he is trying to gain control of this one thing? (Toddlers and teens may frequently display this need in very "unlovable" ways.)

Is he trying to build a wall up around him so won't get hurt (emotionally or physically) again?

Is he uncomfortable in this situation and wants to avoid it?

When you take the time to understand your child's "why" you can then redirect his behavior more effectively.

If you've found this helpful, you can receive more tips: https://my.daretoparent.com/tips

This is one of my favorite parenting quotes.

Think about how good you feel when your spouse or boss says something as simple as,
"Great job" or "Thanks so much for all your hard work."

Now imagine the difference it could make for your child to hear those same words.

"Great job getting that project done. I know it wasn't easy."

"Thanks so much for your hard work as we cleaned up the yard today."

My challenge for you: Find at least one opportunity each day to share some encouragement with each of your children.

Watch the difference it makes in your child!

When couples begin to form their blended family, they are not only blending the people.

Each person brings their own ideas for discipline, family traditions, role expectations, and so much more!

When couples are intentional in their work on stepfamily "speed bumps" before they blend, they have a better rate of success in marriage and experience less stress.

An added bonus, they have strengthened their relationship so they can overcome other challenges as partners.

It's never too late to sort through these issues! How do I know? Because I've worked with numerous couples (both married and engaged-and-blending) who found common ground and formed a shared family plan (what I call a family foundation).

Interested to learn more? Book a discovery call today!
https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/24493

Happy World Mental Health Day!

I love talking about the importance of self-care for parents.

Why?

Because for years I didn't understand the impact my exhaustion had on my parenting.

We can't be the best version of ourselves if we are struggling.

Looking for a quick and easy technique for self-care? Try the Insight Timer app! There are meditations as short as 5 minutes.

Instead of scrolling through nonsense, take 5 minutes to calm and rest yourself for the day, you'll be glad you did!!

Struggles over discipline issues are extremely common for stepcouples.

Getting on the same page with your partner is critical for the success of your family. There are many factors to evaluate when creating a clear and concise discipline plan for all the children.

1. How old is the child?
2. How long has the stepparent been a part of the child's life?
3. Are your discipline expectations in alignment with your partner's?
4. Are each of you experienced or new to parenting?

These are just a few of the many factors that will impact HOW you approach the stepparent-stepchild relationship.

If you and your partner are ready to resolve discipline conflicts, then it's time to take the first step. Book a Discovery Call today to find out more!

https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/24493

We learn to parent from our parents. They are the first role models we have of parenting (for better or worse).

Being aware of your parenting style and that of your partner helps you to understand your strengths and your challenges as partners in parenting.

Rest assured, you may have days where a bit of a Dictator or Doormat parent slides in. That's because you are human and there are times you have to pick your battle.

Striving to be Authoritative means you are PARENTING WITH INTENTION. When you and your partner do the work to get on the same page for parenting and build a clear and concise discipline plan you'll find yourself more and more in the Authoritative mode...and that will make huge changes for your family.

If that sounds like a goal of yours, let's chat! You can book a discovery call today and get started on your pathway to calmer, more intentional parenting.
bit.ly/DtPdiscoverycall

You're tired.

You're sick of telling the kids what to do (or not to do).

You can feel the stress in your body begin to build and you're about to start yelling.

TRY THIS instead...
Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Now ask yourself, "How can I teach through this moment?"

Your kids will learn more from the situation if you can calmly tell them what you expect instead of yelling about their behavior.

I'm not saying it'll be easy, but thinking about the benefit of staying calm and teaching (instead of yelling) will help.

You will:
1. Demonstrate how to manage frustration
2. Have a teachable moment
3. Not damage the parent-child bond

Any questions? Comment below!

It is World Teacher's Day and I wanted to thank all the teachers who touch the lives of so many!

A shout out to my daughter, son-in-law, and many friends who are in (or recently retired from) the profession. I'm so proud to be a teacher's mom

Back in the day, the words "discipline" and "punishment" were used interchangeably.

NOW...we know there is an important difference between the two modes and they have very different consequences.

All this month I'll be sharing tips, strategies and information regarding effective discipline techniques.

Post your questions below, I'll be happy to cover them in an upcoming post!

October's theme is "DISCIPLINE 101!"

Time and again, when couples reach out, they tell me they struggle with discipline. Whether they are lacking strategies or not on the same page, their challenges are resulting in chaos at home.

Look, I get it! We don't teach parents HOW to parent. We just assume it will all fall into place, but it doesn't.

KIDS DON'T COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS and that leave you figuring out how to set boundaries, expectations, and family rules that may or may not work.

If YOU are ready to lead your family with a clear discipline strategy, then you need to join Save Our Sanity (SOS for Parents), where I'll be doing weekly trainings, two live coaching sessions and a MEMBERS ONLY MASTERCLASS that will give you the ins and outs of effective discipline.

See the link in my bio for more about Save Our Sanity. JOIN TODAY, you don't want to miss a thing!
https://bit.ly/saveoursanity

Today is International Podcast Day!

I have had the pleasure to be a guest on some incredible podcasts! What an experience to talk about my favorite coaching topics: parenting, discipline, family dynamics and overcoming stepfamily challenges.

Please check out my podcast page (see link

I have had the pleasure to be a guest on some incredible podcasts! What an experience to talk about my favorite coaching topics: parenting, discipline, family dynamics and overcoming stepfamily challenges.

Please check out my podcast page (see link below or on my website...www.daretoparent.com) and take a listen to some of my most recent podcasts.

https://www.daretoparent.com/podcasts

What are your favorite podcasts?

Happy Friday!
It's the time of year for fun outdoor adventures (before it gets too cold for some of us!).

It's so important for your family to take some time to just unwind and have fun! The shared experiences will strengthen bonds and enhance family dynamics.

Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, Friday Night Lights, and a good, gooey smore by a bonfire are some of the things that come to mind as fall begins.

I'm curious, which of those sounds good to you? What are some of the things your family loves to do during fall?