While gardening today, I got to thinking as I potted out a whole heap of watermelon seedlings. I had 100% germination rate and no room for the plants to fully grow… I didn’t trust the process. I didn’t think they would all sprout. But they did – and generally most do. With the right conditions, […]
What DO we do Instead of Punishment?
Probably the most frequently asked question I get asked by readers in comments of shares of my parenting posts is “what do you do then?” How do respectful parents parent without punishment and other forms of manipulation? When they hear that we don’t spank, yell, force manners, use time out, take possessions, manipulate or bribe they […]
I don’t want to be viewed as a ‘good parent’ by a society that thinks so little of children
Being a respectful parent, I’m sometimes told what I do isn’t good parenting. ‘Good parents’ punish their kids, they control them and this apparently makes children into good adults. I feel as though almost all parents hope to help their kids grow into adults that know how to make smart choices and have emotional intelligence. I […]
What to Say When Children Have Strong Emotions
Children of all ages experience strong emotions. As loving parents it can be uncomfortable to watch them struggle. You want to help them, you want them to be OK. But sometimes as a result of our own discomfort, we try to stop these emotions in their tracks. In turn we don’t allow our children to […]
It Matters To Them
I have been reading about this everywhere lately. Parents complaining about children whinging over insignificant things. Mothers bonding over their kids crying over ‘petty’ issues. And I get it. I do. I get frustrated with my toddler screaming because she can’t fit a dress that she wants to wear so badly. I get overwhelmed when […]