Life is hard. There’s just no denying that. And honestly at times it can feel so unfair. We can be do everything “right” and living our best life only to have a storm come through and uproot us. Today we are going to look at 3 simple ways to take care of yourself and your kiddos either during the storm or after so you can grow through what you go through!

Do you ever feel like you or your kid are just stuck? Like you want to do something new, but when you think about it just seems so scary? Have you been encouraging your kids to try something new - or heck maybe just trying to help them transition back to in-person school - but keep hearing things like “it’s too hard” or “I won’t be able to do it” or “what if someone is better than me?”. What if I was able to provide some simple things you could try each day to help shift those statements to things like, “I’ll learn how to do this even if it’s hard!” or “If I make a mistake, I’ll just learn from it” or “ I can learn from other people!”…would you try them?

I don’t know about you, but lately it just feels like there is an abundance of information about what is “best” for us and the kiddos during this pandemic. And to top it all off, it’s happening during a very politically charged time. So when making a decision about what is best for you and your children it can lead to quite a bit of distress - especially if how you’re feeling doesn’t necessarily align with what you think about the situation.

2020: “The Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID, The Virus…”

2021: “The Vaccine, Moderna, Pfizer, Side Effects…”

Have you ever set rules in your home that just seem to constantly keep getting broken? Do your kids complain that the rules are unfair? Or maybe that there are too many rules? No worries! I have a simple way of setting up house rules that make it easy for kids to remember, easy to implement and enforce, and are consistently fair! Let’s take a look!

So maybe you’ve read my previous blogs and are using relationship skills like praising, reflecting, describing and imitating as well as behavior management skills like BE DIRECT and selective attention and things still aren’t going smoothly. (Or maybe you haven’t, in which case, I recommend starting there first!). This happens from time to time - even when we are being the most skillful parents we can be, kids still refuse to listen - what do we do then? Don’t worry, I got you!

Do you ever feel like the image above when you’re kids won’t listen? Like you’re going to pull your hair out? Like you’re about to scream at the top of your lungs? Like you want to spank your child because they keep pushing you buttons? Yup, this is a pretty common feeling for parents, especially as they go through daily power struggles with their child. What if I told you there was a way to stop this overwhelming feeling of wanting to cover your ears and take away everything you’ve ever given your child when they are refusing to listen or displaying some other agitating behavior?

Do you ever feel like your kid just won’t listen or follow directions? Or like they are doing the opposite of what you want? Do you feel like you have tried everything (taking things away, putting in time-out, spanking, etc.) and still they just don’t seem to get it? What if I told you there is a way to give directions so that kids will listen the majority of the time? (I know, we all wish there was a trick to get them to listen 100% of the time, but that would would mean turning your kid into a robot).

Do you ever feel like your kid goes from one activity to the next? Are they always asking for a new toy or complaining of boredom, even though they just got a plethora of gifts for Christmas? Or perhaps they never seem to focus on anything - especially when it comes to homework? What if there was a way to keep them engaged in an activity (even homework!) for longer than 30 seconds?

Have you ever sat down to play with your kids and they keep telling you are not playing right? Do you find yourself thinking, “what’s the point if you don’t even like playing with me?” Does it seem like they always have to play their way? Alas! There is a fun and simple way to join in with your kid’s play that will also help them to allow you to enter your ideas!

Have you ever had those days where your kid just won’t leave you alone, like even when you’re on the toilet? Where that incessant call for your attention seems like a bottomless pit? Or maybe they are being so unbelievably stubborn about a particular way of doing something that you just can’t seem to understand? Or perhaps, they are dragging their feet through a new store, leaving you to wonder why they never slow down like this at home? What if there was a simple way to help your kids understand, that well, you understand them?

Do you ever find yourself feeling like a broken record repeating “Stop!”, “No!”, “Don’t”, “Quit” to your kids? And no matter how many times you repeat yourself, they never seem to learn their lesson? What if I told you that there is ONE thing you can do to begin getting your kids doing what you want them to do, rather than what you don’t want them doing….would you do it?