Want to strike fear or anger in the heart of a parent? Have them witness their child having a tantrum. To make things extra “spicy,” have the tantrum be in public.  Unfortunately, tantrums are something that ALL parents have to manage. Since the holidays often bring added stress, and added stress can also mean more tantrums (I was talking about your child’s…but I’ve been known to have them on occasion!), here are some tips to help you get through them with fewer gray hairs:
1. Prevent tantrums as much as possible.  Know your …

You’ve heard the adage, “You are what you eat,” right? Well, what you think about is just as important. In any given moment, what are you thinking about? Maybe you’re dreading what your child’s going to do next. Perhaps you’re thinking about what’s for dinner. You might even be thinking about the tantrum your child had yesterday (and how you handled it). Chances are, you’re thinking about the past or the future.
Your thoughts determine your behavior. Right before I lost my temper with my strong-willed daughter yesterday, I can look …

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 …

There is a secret to preventing tantrums and power struggles that is right under your nose. You see and hear evidence of it every day. Sometimes, the expression of it might cause you to want to scream. Know what it is yet?
Temperament. Every child comes into the world with a certain set of traits. Knowing your child’s natural, inborn style of behavior–how they come biologically “wired”–can help you know what limits to set and how to set them, before there is a problem. In the ’50s, researchers Stella and Chess followed people …

  “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!” This was what my client said when I told her she needed to start making herself a priority, or she was going to have a melt-down not unlike her child’s. “But I’m coming to you because my life is crazy. You know how strong-willed children can be, with tantrum after tantrum. There’s no time for me at the end of the day. Self-care. As if.”
   Ahhhh. What the heck is “self-care,” anyway? A made-up term by coaches and therapists to guilt people (read …