No matter where your children go to school or what age they are, there is one lesson they must have for their future happiness and success — and it’s one only parents can teach properly. This is the time of year when children worldwide begin anew learning secular subjects like history, math and reading for […]
Moral Back-To-School Lesson For Families Read More »
There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t find myself laughing, belly-laugh type laughing, with my children. Just the other day Porter and I were driving down the road and I mixed my words up which was kind of comical. When this happened, Porter started laughing. Then I started laughing. We ended
Laugh Therapy For Families Read More »
“If you get it out, put it away. If you turn it on, turn it off. If you take it off, hang it up.” These are the mantras that echoed through my childhood home as my father reminded us children over and over again to pick up after ourselves. I remember trying to keep these
Three Tricks For Getting Your Children To Clean Up After Themselves Read More »
“What do you want your relationship with your child to be like?” I asked a group of dedicated parents attending one of my Teaching Self-Government workshops. “I just want to be my daughter’s friend,” said one mother, “but she doesn’t treat me like one, even though I try so hard.” “Who doesn’t want to have
Why You’re Not Your Daughter’s Best Friend Read More »
When I was growing up, I remember constantly hearing my father say, “There is a time and a place for everything. This is neither the time nor the place.” Usually, hearing these words were all we needed to make us stop what we were doing, analyze our behavior, and make a necessary course correction. I’m
Silliness — There’s a Time and a Place Read More »
There are times when our children just seem to be at a low point. Have you ever noticed that? Why is that? There is something that every person has: a ratio system. There needs to be the right amount of positive moments to balance out any negative moments that may happen.
[Support Group Audio Gem] Positives, Negatives, Praise, And Depression Read More »
I know this article could ruffle a few feathers but I felt like my support group would reallyappreciate it even if they didn’t totally agree.I recently saw the new movie “Inside Out” and couldn’t help but analyze it. My husband alwaysteases me for how much I analyze movies. I actually just analyze everything. That is whatthinking people do. My brain is always searching for more truth or more traps. I guess it’s in myprograming.
[Support Group Article Gem] Is Disney’s “Inside Out” Really “Outside In?” Read More »
“So what exactly is self-government,” a woman asked me one day. “It is a principle of freedom that is taught by parents to their children. The parents create an environment that is filled with a loving, calm tone and a firm structure based on skills and cause and effect. This environment helps children take control
Building Confidence Through Mercy and Advocacy, Not Abandonment Read More »
“Urgh!” my husband exclaimed, as he dropped on the leather couch in our family room. I could see he was frustrated. Maybe this was the moment I had been waiting for, praying for. Over the years I had seen my husband become more and more lazy in his parenting and communications. We used to be
What Dad Really Wants For Father’s Day Read More »
Preparing children for college requires more than helping them get good grades and financial aid. The most important preparation a parent can provide is to give their child the tools they need to think and communicate effectively. It’s never too soon to start teaching these valuable life lessons. Recently, while visiting a university campus, I
Preparing Your Child For College: Start Now! Read More »
Memorial Day is a very special day, especially in the United States. It is a special day to remember your loved ones that have passed on and to get together with family. It is on this day that I remember all of the stories I’ve learned about my ancestors. I get to tell them to my children and learn more from my family members.
[Support Group Audio Gem] Lessons Learned At The Graveside… Read More »
While visiting a friend’s house recently, I was asked this very interesting question. “What do you think about parents who let their children run wild and don’t even seem to notice? My neighbor doesn’t even stop her child from climbing my bookcases when they come for a play date. I think they call it ‘free-range’
Children Aren’t Chickens: A Discussion About Free-Range Parenting Read More »
There are times when we’re trying to implement new skills for Teaching Self-Government and we begin to feel frustrated. Right? This can be related to a play. A few years ago, our whole family was involved in a play.
[Support Group Audio Gem] Patience In Learning New Skills Read More »
To me, a hero is the person who liberates us from our ignorance or rescues us from bondage by teaching us the truths we need. There was a time in my life when I didn’t see my mother as my hero. When I was a child, she seemed weak and emotionally fragile. Although I know
My Mother, My Hero Read More »
Question: How do you help children respond appropriately to unkind behavior and bullying, especially at school? Answer Bullying is on the rise in our society. Many factors may contribute to this trend, including the increased usage of violent video games and movies, and the decrease in social refinement instruction. Whatever the root causes, incidents of
How To Stop Bullying: Boundaries For Bullies! Read More »
In recent months, there have been many news stories, YouTube videos and social media posts that show parents getting creative with their discipline techniques to get through to their children. Everyone wants to know if these creative measures are healthy or harmful. I would like to talk specificallyabout public shaming and its use as a
Public Shaming — Is It Creative or Just Wrong? Read More »
Gender Confessions: Valuing Men & Women Part 1 Read More »
“The Easter Bunny didn’t come to your house today?” the young boy said to me right before the neighborhood Easter egg hunt some years ago. “He came to our house. He always comes to our house the day before Easter.” The little boy’s statement made me think of something I had never thought before. If
The Easter Alternative Read More »
While flying 23,000 feet above the earth through clouds and sky, the world looks a bit different. The small aircraft is surrounded by parts of the atmosphere. While on the ground it is easy to think of earth as separate from the atmosphere even though any science class would prove otherwise. But in the air,
Entitlement Issues: Children Are Atmospheric Creatures Read More »
A friend of mine recently shared this video with me. It is very clever and I must admit that my first inclination was to laugh when I saw it. The video has become widely popular on the internet due to its ability to appeal to all people and because of its cleverness.
[Support Group Gem Video] The Mother Stereotype Read More »