Are you old enough to remember the “Just Say NO” campaign from the Reagan era?  Whether or not it was successful in reducing drug abuse is debatable. That said, I think it’s like the ”Just Do It” slogan from Nike in its assertiveness. It implies action. Now.
 In the spirit of helping you to take action that will make your job as a parent easier, I am going to point out three parenting behaviors that, if you stop doing them, you will get better results. So, here are my three enemies of successfully parenting parenting your difficult …

Let’s be real for a minute: parenting is hard work. Whether your child is strong-willed or mild-mannered (I have one of each!), you have to work at intentionally instilling your values and teaching right from wrong. But you can work smarter, not harder, by avoiding these discipline mistakes:
1. Talking Too Much. Lecturing. Explaining. Nagging. If you’re clear about your expectations and rules up front, you shouldn’t need to explain yourself endlessly. In fact, doing so gives your child time, attention and relationship at the wrong time, AND takes away their opportunity …

If you’re anything like me (and if you have a strong-willed child, I’m betting we have a few things in common!), this thought has crossed your mind at least once: “Is it my fault my child is so difficult to parent?” A simple request to your child can result in her melting down into a temper tantrum. Too much noise or stimulation can mean excess energy–I’m thinking of my own strong-willed daughter zooming around the house the other night, exclaiming with glee, “I just LOVE the holidays! They give me …

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 …