Later Stages of Parenting

Posted by on Nov 4, 2014 in General, Parenting Stance, Parenting Techniques | 0 comments   The other day, a mother commented, “I have a son in his 40’s. There’s a lot of discussion about the stages of parenting up to college, but you never hear about the stages after. I find that there are a LOT of stages of parenting that come later — and they are important stages, really good stages, for the parent.” I love this idea. Watching my parenting slowly...
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Leo Babauta on resiliency and modeling

Posted by on Feb 14, 2012 in Parenting Stance, Parenting Techniques | 0 comments Leo Babauta authors a great blog, Zen Habits. It’s one of the handful of blogs that I subscribe to, and, yes, actually read every entry. His latest post, 9 Essential Skills Kids Should Learn, is worth reading. Letting kids solve challenges on their own, showing resiliency and acceptance in our own lives, being comfortable with an unknown future — good stuff! Check it...
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I’ve got your back.

Posted by on Aug 24, 2011 in Parenting Techniques | 0 comments The beginning of a new school year brings up a lot of things: excitement, fear, stress, stress, stress. Look at your kid: see how brave they are being: to go to school, meet new teachers, see old friends, start school work again …. wow. What courage – to even walk into campus that first day! How can I tell my kid that I have his back? That I believe in him/her? I’m steering...
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Voice: slow

Posted by on Jul 18, 2011 in General, Parenting Stance, Parenting Techniques | 2 comments Slowing down – speaking slowly. Not easy in general, and especially not when I am frustrated, uncomfortable, happy or enthusiastic (Dang – I think that’s about all of the time!). AND when I can keep my voice s..l..o..w, I LIKE the way I sound. Kids can hear me better, I can hear me better, and I can stop being so reactive and start responding. In class, we ask, “Do you...
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Voice: low

Posted by on Jul 3, 2011 in General, Parenting Techniques | 0 comments There are a couple of things I can do to keep myself in the calm mode: keep my voice low and keep my voice slow. When I start to get triggered, my voice starts getting…hmmm…. strident? (some might say “bitchy”). When I can hear my voice getting shrill, it gets higher in pitch. So I use my voice as a measuring instrument: when my voice starts climbing, I either consciously...
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Fave parenting technique

Posted by on May 21, 2011 in Parenting Techniques | 1 comment One of my favorite parenting techniques: “Sure.” Sprinkle generously: “Sure!” “suuure…”  “sure.” I really like my parenting when I “sure” a...
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