Being a Thermostat in a Thermometer World

How often have you noticed your child copying your action, words, or thoughts? Maybe you were driving and heard your child in the back seat repeating, “Come on, people! The light is green! Go, go, go!” Or when you were mowing the lawn and your child got his toy lawnmower and started doing it alongside…

My Child Won’t Tell Me How They Feel

I often encounter parents who are concerned because their child doesn’t talk about their feelings. Whether it’s in response to a separation or divorce, the death of a loved one, bullying at school, or any other number of issues, parents desire to help their children talk through their emotions. But therein lies the problem: Children…

The (Power) Struggle is Real

As I sit with parents before meeting their children for the first time, I often hear the same things over and over: “It’s a constant power struggle. I can’t trust them to do anything on their own, and I’m exhausted from always having to step in.” This repetitive topic doesn’t come up because the parent…

What Your Children Have May Not Be What They Need

It’s not always about what your children have, but rather about who you are teaching them to be. I spend a lot of time working with parents who are trying to get on the same page regarding their children’s behavior, school performance, social commitments and future decisions. All of these things are important and need…