Blog: Because I Said So!

Still Got Kids in your Bed? Read This

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To co-sleep or not to co-sleep? That is the question.

As a parent coach, one of the first questions I ask my clients is if they have a child sleeping in their bed. About 50% of my clients with young children answer “yes.” Of those, about 95% tell me they do NOT want their child in their bed anymore. They just don't know HOW to get the kids out.

Effective Child Discipline begins...

...once the child is out of the marital bed. Many of my clients do not like hearing this. But it's true. When a c…

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Teen Troubles Tamed!

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A lot of moms ask for parenting help with their teens. What worked when their kids were younger no longer works for teens. And they don't want to make the same mistakes their parents made with them.

Why is it so hard to parent teens?

As moms, we are still influential but our influence wanes. Teens naturally rebel and they really need a lot of freedom. And with the stress teens face today, they have a larger need for fun, too. Plus, being an adolescent is super stressful. It feels like nobody u…

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Emotions are Contagious

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And anxiety is probably the most contagious emotion there is.

Self-care during this pandemic can seem frivolous. 

It's not.

In order for moms to be the most effective we can be, we have to be as well-rested as possible and as calm as possible. Not all the time. But at least in general. One way to help us be our best selves is to practice self-care.

And what a great model we are for our sons and daughters when they see us setting limits and boundaries so we can practice self-care. That not on…

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ADHD or Sleep Deprivation?

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Does Your Spirited Child Have ADHD or Are They Sleep Deprived?

If you are worried your spirited child may have ADHD because they child run around, ignore requests, cries or gets very upset easily, is aggressive, and their teacher complains of "lack of focus" at school, I want you to keep reading.

Before you talk to the teacher and start the process of assessment, I have a quick and easy way to determine if that is the next right step for your family.

   

As you can see from the chart above, there ar…

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Create a Study Space in 3 Easy Steps

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Back to School is here and parenting advice is everywhere. Moms want to know about the most effective parenting tips so their children will have a great year. Creating a study space for your child is top on the list of things to do! Luckily, I have done some research and have parenting advice for you right here!

Step 1

Get your child involved. You may crave total silence and a formal work area and work best late at night. But your kid may be very different. If you find your child reading books…

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Avoid Fighting with Your Defiant and Disrespectful Child?

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When you dreamed about having children there are many realities that you just didn't know about, even if you used to look at other parents and say "Oh, my kids will never do that..."

Hahahahaha

That's why I tell my clients that a Mission Statement and a Vision are so important. No, it won't prevent all problems but it will give you a sense of direction when things go awry.

For example, at some point in our parenting, we will hear some version of:

You can’t make me.

At that point, moms…

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What is in Fashion for Moms?

Moms are into fashion.

Nope, not talking about Mom Jeans...

               

Isn't it crazy to see the youngsters wearing these...for real?

Not that kind of fashion.

I'm talking about what is fashionable in "mothering."

Here's what I mean: I'm part of a (fantastic) group of moms in my neighborhood who support each other. A member of the group posted an Atlantic article entitled "The Dangers of Distracted Parenting." There were 31 comments and counting by Noon. I think this hit a nerve beca…

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The Perfect Age for Smart Phones

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Parents want parenting advice on when their child should get a smartphone.
I used to say kids should have the cell phones THEY can afford. If they can afford to purchase and pay for a smartphone, then by all means, they should have one. My assumption is that if a 10-year-old can afford an $800+ phone and the $150/month bill to pay for that phone, he will also have enough self-discipline and emotional regulation that he won't spend all day looking at free porn.

But that's me. And to be comp…

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3 Myths of Misbehaving Kids (Pt 4 of 4 Childhood Development Series)

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As the last part of my child development series, I’m inviting you to explore behavior development. This is where there is a lot more to understand behind the scenes than the actions we see. Most often, we are focused on our children’s misbehavior. Their “acting out” behavior. We are tempted to label these outbursts because we are trying to understand the “WHY” of their misbehavior. We might even hear ourselves say “Why did you do that?” or “What were you thinking?”

Understandably, this can be …

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3 Ways to Promote Language & Communication in your Child (Pt 3 of 4 Childhood Development Series)

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A child’s development in communication and language is amazing to observe. Not only are they voicing their opinions and providing a glimpse of how their minds work, but they are exploring new territories, boundaries, and figuring out their place in the family.

Many of us may have expectations (whether we realize it or not) of how our child’s speech should be developing and at what rate, but it is imperative to remember that just as in our previous posts about cognitive and emotional developmen…

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