1. When your child is asleep, at school, or just not with you, think about one thing you love about him or her. Imagine it fully. For me, it’s my daughter’s sweet laughter. I can easily imagine her laughing at something, her head thrown back in a healthy expression of joy or humor. Doing this helps you reconnect with the positive aspects of your child.
2. Picture your child using his or her temperamental traits for good. Is she bossy? Picture her effectively leading a major corporation someday (Sound silly? So …

As a mom, scrapbooker, and human being, I make a ton of mistakes (and not necessarily in that order). I find that when I tend to focus on “getting things RIGHT,” I actually miss the mark more. Let me explain. For example, as a parent coach, there are times when, even though I know I want to respond patiently to one of my daughters, I often don’t. The reasons are many (lack of sleep, feeling grumpy, etc.). The dialogue in my head can go something like this: “Hey…you’re a parent coach …