Beingsobusy that there isnowhite space leftonyourcalendar isnotagood feeling–especially for

children.Youcanrunyoursocialcalendar–butitshouldnotrunyou.

Nowadays,thereisasenseoffillingalltheemptyspacewithactivities,sports,errands,playdates,birthday

parties and outings because we have good intentions that we’re socializing or providing learning

opportunitiesforourchildren.Activitiesarefinesometimesbutnotsofrequentlythatyou’reeatingmeals

inthecar,andrunningyourkidsfromschooltooneactivityafteranotheruntilbedtime.

Childhood needs scheduled time for boredom and growing imaginations through creative-play and

withoutadultagendas.

Letyourchildrenplayathomeandoutdoors.Boredomiswhatleadstoexploration,creativityandbuilding

animagination.Letthembebored–schedulethetimeforitifyoumust–todiginthedirt,pickupbugs,

playdress-up,splashinthewaterandbuildforts.

Childhoodisfleeting–thisissomethingadultsknowalltoowell–jugglingoverscheduledactivitiesand

eatingmealsduringcarpooldoesn’tleavemuchtimeforthesecriticaldevelopmentexperiences.

§ HowtoCreateaPositiveHome

§ 9TraditionsEveryFamilyNeedsForConnection

§ 8WaystoConnectWithYourKidsIndividuallyEveryDay

§ 10Screen-FreeAlternativestoWindDownBeforeBed

§ HowtoTeachYourKidstoPlayByThemselves

Are you taking the time to prepare the night before for school lunches, a trip or outing or are you

scramblinginthemorningtogetyourbagspacked,food,snacks,waterbottles,diaperbagandallthe

necessitiesyou’llneed?Saveyourselfthefranticscurryingaroundtogathereverything-andhopeyou

didn'tforgetanything-asyou'rerunningoutthedoor.Take10minutestopackyoursuppliesthenight

before.

§ HowYourFamilyCanBenefitFromaDailyRoutine

§ HowMuchSleepDoMyKidsReallyNeed?ComprehensiveSleepChartsBaby–Adolescents

§ MakeoverYourMornings:FromChaostoCalm

Whenyougiveyourchildrenchoices, they feelempoweredbyhavingavoiceandbeingapartof the

decisionmaking.Butwhenyoubegintooffermorethantwochoices,thisiswherethedecision-making

becomesharder,andtakeslonger.

Offeringthreeorfourchoicesforlunchwillbecomeaconundrumforlittlekids(andparents),butifyou

givethemtwooption,theycancomparethetwoandmakeaquickchoice.

Themorechoicesyouofferduringthedaywhetherit’sforpickingoutanoutfit,meals,activities,orfora

distractionorresolutiontobehavior,giveschildrenthepowertheyneedtofeelconfidentandthesense

ofpowertheyfeelevenfromthemostsimpleofchoices,willhelpdetourtempertantrums.

§ Wouldyoulikegrilledcheeseoraquesadillaforlunch?

§ Doyouwanttowearablueshirtorgreenshirttoday?

§ Wecanplaywithplaydoughorcolorrightnow,whatwouldyouliketodo?

§ Wehavefiveminutesbeforebedtime,doyouwanttoreadabookorplaywithyourlegos?

§ WhyYouNeedtoStopSaying“GoodJob”andWhatYourKidsNeedYoutoSayInstead

§ WhyisMyChildLying?Understandingthe8ReasonsChildrenLie

§ PutanEndtoPowerStruggles

Youwillnotgetwhatyouwantunlessyouaskforit.Directlyandclearlyaskingforwhatyouwantand

need.

Thisisn’tjusttrueforparenthood–itstrueinlife.Inyourjob,withfriendsandasaparentwhenyoumake

adirectstatementinsteadofarequest,you’relikelytogetthedesiredaction.

Askingyourchild,“Max,canyoupleasepickupyourtoyswhenyou’redoneplaying,”doesn’tworkaswell

“Pleasepickupyourtoysnowsowecanhavelunch.”

Whenyoustopaskingforyourchildtopleasedosomethinginacoupleminutesoratthetimeoftheir

choosing(whichoftentimeisnever),whenyoustatewhatyouneedthemtodoatthatmoment,thereis

amuchgreaterchanceofitgettingdone.

§ 9ProvenWaystoBoostaChild’sConfidence

§ TheBestApproachToCalmingaTantrum(ThatActuallyWorks)

§ WhyAreYouYellingAtYourKids?UnderstandingWhatTriggersYourMomAnger

Parentsspendsomuchtimeandenergymeetingtheneedsoftheirchildren.Afterthekidsareinbed,the

dishesaredoneandlaundryhasbeenfolded,thereisn’tmuchtimetodoanythingotherthanfallonto

yourbedexhausted.

Beingdepleteddoesn’tallowyoutocareforyourchildren–orplaywiththem–howyouwantwhenyour

energycomesintheformof2cupsofcoffeeora3o’clocksugarfix.

Findingtimetoreplenishyourselfandfeedyourownsoulwithsomethingyouloveisimportant.Schedule

timebeforeyourkidswakeup,aftertheygotobed,hiringababysitterorswappingchildcaredutieswith

afriendonedayaweektogetsomealonetimetodosomethingthatisimportanttoyou.

Sometimessingleparenting,financesandjugglingtimebetweenwork,childrenandyourhomeishard.

Simple pleasures like reading a book, taking a bath, sitting quietly with a cup of something warm,

exercisingoraglassofwineissimpleandeasyenoughtogiveyouthecomfortyouneedtoreenergize

yourself.

§ 7WaystoDigYourselfOutofaMomFunk

§ 10WaystoRockBeingaStayatHomeMom

§ TheOneThingYouNeedasanIntrovertedMom

Howoftendowereallystopandlistentowhatourkidsaresaying?

Thismaysoundharsh,buthowmanytimesdowemumbleahalf-hearted“uhhuh”ornodourheads

whenourkidstrytotellusanewstoryorshowaapicturetheyjustdrew?Therealityisthatwhenyou

don’tfullylisten,givesomesortofcursoryresponseorofferanobligatory“goodjob,”yourtoneandbody

languagedon’tgounnoticedbyyourchildren.

Theychildrencometoyouandwanttosharebecauseyouarethemostimportantpersonintheirlives

andwhatyouthink,sayandofferisvaluableandmeaningfultothem.

Stopwhatyou’redoinginthatmomentandshowthemthatyouarelistening.Really,trulylistening.

§ TheOneParentingTipThatWillChangeHowYouParentForever

§ HowtoHelpDevelopEmotionalIntelligenceinChildren

§ SpottingOverwhelmingEnvironmentsWhenKidsNeedaParenttoIntervene

Howoftendoyoufindyourselfinapositionagreeingtotakeonanewresponsibility-whetherit’sjoining

(another)committee,attendinganothereventyoudon’twanttogoto,ordoingsomethingyouabsolutely

havenointerestordesiretodobutfeelobligatedtostillsayyestoanyways.

All those extra times you say yes, evenwhen your plate is already full pile up andweigh you down

emotionally,mentallyandevenphysically.Ifyouwanttohavealessbusylife,youhavetostartsaying

No.

Yourfirstresponsetoeverythingshouldbeno.Sitonitandhonestlyevaluateifyourealisticallyhavethe

time,energyandinteresttotakeonanotherresponsibility.Remember,foreveryyesyouagreetodo,

somethingelseinyourlifewillhavetobemadelessofapriority.Doyouhavespaceforonemorething?

Ifit’snotahellyes,it’sahellno!

§ 25ThingsThatAreStealingTheJoyOutofYourMotherhood

§ TheBestSanitySavingTipsforStayatHomeMoms

§ StopTryingtoMakeEverythingPerfect

There is a rule in childpsychology that for every “No” you say to your children, youneed to counter

balancewithfive–yesFIVE–“Yes”responses.

Stoppushingthebrakesonyourchildren,andinsteadofgivingnegativeresponses,trytobemoreflexible

andlesscontrollingbysayingyesmoreoften.The1:5ratiowillmakeyourchildrenhappier,relievesome

parentingstressanddissolvethetensionthatcanbuildupuntiltantrumsandback-talk.SavethebigNo

responseforthebigstuff–whenit’simportantandkidsareaskingforsomethingthatisunsafe.

Thisdoesn’tmeanyou’respendingmoneyorheadingoutthedoortotraversethecitythisweekend,it

simplymeansgivinginandsayingyestofivemoreminutesofreadingbooks,onelessbiteofspinach,or

cuddlingwiththematbedtime.

Ifyoudaughterwantstowearacatsweaterandcandy-canestripedpantswithflip-flopstoschool,let

her.Yoursonwantstohelpmakedinner,noproblem.Yourkidswanttodoapuzzleinsteadatakeabath

beforebed,let’sdoit!

§ TheMagicThatHappensWhenYouSayYesToYourKidsMoreOFten

§ HowWillMyChildrenRememberMeWhenTheyAreGrow

§ 15HealthyHabitsEveryParentNeedstoTeachTheirChildren

§ 25WaystoBeaMorePlayfulParent