I don’t know about you, but I grew up with a big list o’ things I would NEVER say to MY kids. Of course, these were things my mom said to me when I was a kid, things I didn’t like. It’s not that my mom wasn’t amazing in many areas. Nobody had a more playful, humorous outlook on life than my mom. Plus, I’d give anything to have her alive, here with me again. That said, there were definitely some parts of her parenting I didn’t want to replicate.
When I …

As a mompreneur, how do you see yourself? Do you view yourself primarily as an at-home mom who also works from home? Or, do you see yourself as a mom who works at home because you feel passionate about being there for your kids and equally passionate about running your own business? I ask these questions because, the other day, I heard one woman tell another, “Well, you don’t know what it’s like to be a working mom; you work from home.” This same mom then went on to say, …

When you’re stressed and you want to throw in the motherhood towel, it’s nice to know you’ve got friends you can call. After all, nobody knows motherhood like another mother, right? When your son divebombs off the couch and lands on that expensive vase from your mother-in-law (you didn’t like it anyway, did you?), and then your daughter has a meltdown of her own, other mom-friends can ease your pain.
Or can they? It’s important to know which friends are “activity friends” and which are “heart” friends. Both are essential. And both …

Hey, moms!
I want to give you a heads-up about an upcoming event that will help you parent your challenging child more easily and with way less stress. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m so tired of feeling guilty. Why does parenting have to be so hard?” you’ll be glad to know that I’m offering a 5-week teleseminar,
“5 Weeks To Lasting Peace with Your Intense, Difficult Child.”
By the time this teleseminar ends, you’ll have more energy and enjoy your child more. Not only will you learn powerful techniques for creating lasting change …

Oh, how many times have I heard a parent say, “I swear she’s out to get me!” or “He just tries and tries to get my goat.” I’ve even thought it myself about my own children. You know the drill, right? You’ve told your child repeatedly NOT to do something and they continue to do it. Sometimes they even look at you to see what your reaction will be. How’s THAT for infuriating?
So, what gives? Is your child out to get you when he or she misbehaves? Nope. Not really. …

No matter what winter holidays you celebrate, this season is likely to be full of excitement and expectations. And when you add a challenging child into the mix, life can get overwhelming. Enjoying traditions is one thing that can help create less stress and more peace. At our house, I like to play the same versions of Christmas songs that I grew up with (Kenny Burrell’s “Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas” and Elvis’ “Blue Christmas“) to put me in the holiday mood. Just hearing the songs takes me …

I’m fond of saying that when moms feel better, they do better. In a previous post, I talked about how comparing yourself to other moms can leave you feeling awful. Yet, everywhere around you are examples of how to parent better. What should you pay attention to versus what should you ignore? Here are my tips for easy ways to feel like a better mother, without comparing yourself.
1. Know Thyself. As I’ve mentioned before, knowing your personality style and what makes you tick as a mother is very freeing. It helps you …

If you’re a mom who struggles with feeling “good enough” (and who among us hasn’t?), you may be prone to comparing yourself to other moms. Thanks to the beauty of the internet, moms can now compare themselves 24/7! Just the other day I was reading a blog post about a mom who is pregnant with her fourth child and yet who makes the time to do amazing art projects and organic cooking sessions with her children, all of whom are under the age of 6! The pictures on her blog …

It can be so overwhelming to be a mom. And not just any mom, but a mom of a strong-willed child, to boot.  Here’s what comes to mind. Setting limits. Enforcing them. Remaining consistent (remaining? How about starting?). Being aware of temperamental traits so you can set your child up for as much success as possible. Managing temper tantrums and power struggles (your own and your child’s!). That’s not a complete list, but it’s enough! How do you know you’re on the right track in your parenting when there’s so much …