A Suddenly “Shy” Child
I get invited into some of the best discussions with parents! Recently I had a wonderful on-line discussion about shyness and social anxiety in young children. Because adults often learn in the context of other’s questions I’m going to share with you what you would have overheard had you been [...]
Bite My Tongue or Speak Up? When adults disagree over parenting
Parenting encompasses so much more than just an adult to child relationship. In fact, new parents are often taken by surprise by just how much this new relationship with their child impacts their other close relationships. Of course, this is most obvious in the co-parent relationship, but also (and this [...]
“Smart” is this label trapping your child?
If you encountered a magic fairy who promised wonderful things if you would only put your child in a box, would you put your child in a box? Before you shout “Of course, not!,” what if she told you, “It’s a beautiful box and others will envy you and your [...]
Saying “No” with Love
A recent feature in the New York Times about spas that cater to children made me sad. But not exactly for the reasons you’d expect. It was because of this quote, from a mom of one of the pint-sized spa-goers: “I don’t want them to feel that my saying ‘No’ means that I don’t [...]
I want, I want…gimme…gimme!
It can be hard to live with a chorus of "I want...gimme, gimme." Whether expectations are based on advertising images of children with floor-to-ceiling wish lists or simply enjoying a friend's toy or game, every parent at some time will face the expectations that children bring to the Christmas season. For [...]
Do your children have parents or competitors?
Shiny, Happier People To describe the vast and varied role of the parent we turn to a whole list of occupations—doctor, police officer, counselor, game designer, bus driver and more—like jeweler. Yes, jeweler. Each child is a gem with multiple facets that reflect light. When Dad shines his light, it [...]