Index: Skills
September 22, 2017
It might seem unusual to share this personal letter publicly, but I felt many mothers and fathers could relate. My two oldest children have recently left from home. The combination of those events, the ongoing negative messaging about motherhood and families, as well as a few positive events (like the upcoming Mom’s March), inspired me to give motherly advice for… Read more »
October 18, 2021
Authentic grandparents who actively engage with their children and grandchildren establish a foundation of security and hope for the younger generations that can’t be found elsewhere. Grandpa had a boat and regularly took me and the rest of his large family out for rides and on water-skiing trips. These were fun memories, but one boating memory stands out above all… Read more »
May 2, 2022
Mom has a bad knee, but that doesn’t stop us from making multi-generational memories to last a lifetime. Months ago, when I asked Mom to accompany me on a trip to Alaska, she said, “Sure, I’ll come if you really want me to go with you. I don’t move very fast anymore because of my knee. Are you okay going… Read more »
February 14, 2018
Despite the fact that my parents worked very hard to provide for their growing family, some experiences were memorable in an uncomfortable way. I’ll never forget driving through Death Valley during the summer. It was 105 degrees in the middle of the night. We did our best to keep us all from roasting to death in our rusted-out Suburban that… Read more »
March 9, 2017
One night, after my parents left to go on a date, my brother and I started fighting. I vividly remember the fight getting to the point where both of us were standing on a couch threatening each other with broomsticks. This sad memory changed me. Many times over the years I’ve had that memory return, but with a goal attached… Read more »
July 13, 2008
We got home late. My four year old fell asleep on the way home. After waking up, he came in to go potty, get dressed and go to bed. From the bathroom I heard crying. He was in there for a long time. He was in the bathroom trying to clean up a mess that he had made in his… Read more »
June 8, 2016
“There is no substitute for hard work.” (Thomas Edison) Years ago, when I was planning a Teaching Self-Government trip to China, a good friend of mine said, “Nicholeen, what are you going to tell parents in China who don’t understand why their child should earn an extra chore? Most parents don’t have their children do manual work.” Since I was… Read more »
January 11, 2022
Our youth are stuck in a social vortex that’s forever spinning ideas past them but never leading them to truth. Every person has an inborn desire to know why they are here, where they are going, and what life’s all about. Scientists and socialists, as well as academics and activists, all attempt to promote purpose to the young. But they… Read more »
January 24, 2019
“Is it okay for children to correct their parents?” I often get asked by parents who are hoping to be just in their parenting. My answer to them is, “Well, that all depends how and when it’s done. There is a right way and a wrong way to correct children, and for children to correct their parents.”At 16, after years… Read more »
March 28, 2018
I participated in a recent demonstration at the United Nations to oppose the sexualization of children by UN agencies. These agencies are supposed to protect children. Right in the middle of my speech, a woman opposed to my views stuck a piece of paper in front of my face. The contentious act by this woman, who some call “the snake,”… Read more »
May 3, 2021
There is a myth that parents from past generations didn’t understand or care about the feelings of their children as much as they should have or as much as modern parents do. This isn’t true. I’m never a fan of putting whole generations of people into boxes just because there are a few horror stories. It’s absurd to assume we… Read more »
November 9, 2018
“Calmness is the rarest quality in human life. It is the poise of a great nature, in harmony with itself and its ideals. It is the moral atmosphere of a life self-centred, self-reliant, and self- controlled. Calmness is singleness of purpose, absolute confidence, and conscious power — ready to be focused in an instant to meet any crisis.” (William George… Read more »
Filter by Index
Addictions
- Eating Disorders (11)
- Food (12)
- Masturbation (18)
- Media (94)
- Pornography (31)
- Social (111)
- Urgency Addictions (15)
Age
- Adult Children (165)
- Adults (176)
- Grandparents (43)
- Teens (Youth) (357)
- Toddlers & Younger Children (338)
- Tweens (155)
Behaviors
- Attitude (137)
- Bedtime (46)
- Begging (13)
- Boundaries (88)
- Bullying (37)
- Car Behavior (12)
- Depression (38)
- Entitlement (95)
- Etiquette (8)
- Hitting (27)
- Hoarding (7)
- Lying (58)
- Manipulation (133)
- Meal Time (16)
- Micromanaging (23)
- Negative attention-seeking (94)
- Out of Instructional Control (125)
- Picky Eaters (15)
- Religious Troubles (22)
- Sex (26)
- Shy Children (10)
- Whining (42)
- Yelling (24)
Consequences
- Chores (143)
- Motivating and Inspiration (138)
- Privileges (50)
- Rewards (39)
- SODAS: Problem Solving Exercises (48)
- Time-Out (for ages 7-8 and younger) (44)
Education
- Homeschool (126)
- Private School (23)
- Public School (41)
Relationships
- Abuse (29)
- Authority (109)
- Babysitting (21)
- Character Building (177)
- Control (89)
- Couple Relationship (106)
- Culture (183)
- Dating (29)
- Expectations (173)
- Marriage Relationship (92)
- Money (12)
- Mutual Respect (115)
- Power Struggling (157)
- Respect (201)
- Roles (246)
- Sibling Interactions (145)
- Spouse (80)
Skills
- Accepting No Answers and Criticism (234)
- Analyzing (178)
- Correcting (246)
- Disagreeing Appropriately (173)
- Dropping the subject (78)
- Encouragement (97)
- Following Instructions (120)
- Four Basic Skills (154)
- Group Problem Solving (65)
- No Answers (184)
- Praise (122)
- Pre-Teach (263)
- Problem Solving (133)
- Rule of Three (ages 6-8+) (107)
- Social Skills (178)
- Work Ethic (62)
Structure
- Family Culture (296)
- Family Economy (27)
- Family Standard (78)
- Mentor Sessions (78)
- Mission Statement (24)
- Priorities (71)
Tone
- Anxiety (100)
- Assertive Communication (184)
- Balance (104)
- Calm (247)
- Changing Hearts (177)
- Common Vision Creation (165)
- Connecting (Looking in the eyes) (95)
- Describe (73)
- Family Unity (182)
- Mission (46)
- Power of Calm (113)
- Seek to Understand (121)
- Unity (107)
- Vision (132)