If you care about theirhomework more than the kids do, there’s a problem. This is the kids’ issue, not yours. It’s not about whether you’re a good or a bad parent. It’s about the kid. Even really great parents have sometimes have kids who do poorly in school. Trying to wrestle your kids into doing […]
Don’t think you can judge whether or not you’ve been a good parent by the choices your children make. It may seem like your parenting success should have a clear outcome, but that’s not the case. The children of really terrific parents sometimes make really bad choices. The goal is simple: happy, healthy, well-behaved children […]
You’ll never stop loving your kid, no matter what, but it may be time to stop parenting.This world can be tough. Whether your kid is eighteen and joining the army to fight the bad guys or twenty-eight and unable to find a career, you still love him. Even when you don’t like what he’s doing […]
When your kids, your mate or your relatives are making really bad choices, the most difficult thing to do is believe they can straighten themselves out. It is typical to want to tell them a few realities. You might have a powerful urge to straighten them out yourself. Resist. Messing up and making bad choices […]
Loving another person can be the hardest challenge in your life, particularly when the one you love—a mate, a child, or a friend—is making difficult choices. When these choices are positive in that person’s life, you cheer. When the choices are destructive, though, you can have a range of emotions that threaten to tear you […]
It’s not that you’re deliberately dishonest with your child. You want everything for him. You want him to be happy, to find just the right job, the right mate, and to be happy with the life he chooses. You may still by lying. Truthfully, parenting lies can look so harmless. There are the lies you’d […]
As parents, we want everything wonderful for our kids. And they are amazing. They say the funniest things. They figure out tough situations that we’d never expected them to be able to deal with. They get great grades in math when we suck in math. They are beautiful, intelligent creatures. But we lie to our […]
Don’t tell your kid, you’ll never be disappointed in him. You will be. You are. When the child you’ve nurtured, the kid with a limitless future and a hundred joyful gifts, sells himself short, you’ll be upset, sad and angry. When he doesn’t go for the goal he wants because he’s convinced he can’t achieve […]
First of all, there is no such thing. No matter how much energy you put into your parenting, no matter how smart and beautiful your kid is: Perfection isn’t a possibility. If you think your kid doesn’t screw up, doesn’t make ridiculous mistakes and bad choices, you’re not paying close enough attention. The truth is […]
Few people love doing without. We tend to crave comfort and all the accessories that come with that. You want all that and more for your kids. It’s natural to want to provide for your children. You love them. You want them not to feel embarrassed in front of their friends. You want to rescue […]