The Importance of the Family Day Out   If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that family life can be very stressful. From the school run to finding activities over summer holidays, family life can be non-stop. And that’s exactly why it’s so important to find ways to wind down, de-stress, and […]

Bullying can take many forms, from physical confrontations in the school halls and playground to harassment on the Internet and cell phones. Most parents are unaware that their child is being bullied until the situation is out of control.

Home is where your heart is safe. It is the one place you can relax and be authentic. Home is not just walls, floor and bed, but the intangible aspects of your environment that make you feel welcome and blessed. It is, or should be, a refuge from the world.You need to protect your home […]

As an empowerment coach and life educator, I teach families about the importance of self-soothing rituals and calming techniques for each member of the family. If you have been a parent, you will remember the methods you developed to sooth a fretful baby or toddler.  You knew what worked and what would just make the child […]

To be a biological parent requires a single act of sex, or even a test tube or petri dish.  A joining of sperm and egg does not a family make.  How you were created is less important than how you were nurtured. Parents and mentors come in all sizes, ages, sexual orientation and skills.  Many children […]

The mind does not know when you are speaking the truth as it is or you are talking about what you wish were happening. To the mind it is just chatter. It is just as easy to see yourself and the members of your family having positive character traits as to dwell on the failure and disappointment. […]

Just as nurturing and nursing a baby will help the physical body to grow and develop, so will nurturing the spirit. Part of your destiny includes helping others to reach theirs. You are the farmer and the gardener who will assist the family to develop their full potential. Affirming kind words and encouraging positive behavior can affect […]

“Get down from the table top right now! What are you doing? Floors are for standing on, tables are for eating. You need a time out, young lady. You go to your room and think about how you have been acting today.” So little Mary, 4, goes to her room with a sulky look on […]

Criticism is punitive Our children judge themselves on the opinions we have of them. When we use harsh words, demeaning adjectives or a sarcastic tone of voice, we literally strip a child’s core of self-confidence and make them less likely to try to please us. Studies have shown that verbal abuse is more likely than […]

What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I bet your favorite memories as a child involved getting wet, running through sprinklers on a sweltering afternoon, water fights in the backyard, wading at the beach, playing on the slip & slide, and skipping rocks across the river. Your kids will relish the same experiences […]

To have reasonable expectations of our children is an important aspect of wise parenting. Reasonable expectations leave room for a child to be a child but understand they are on the road to learning to be a mature adult. Often I see parents who try to hold their children to a much higher standard than […]

Homes should be run by parents, not children. So many times, however, either the children are in charge or the parents are so eager to be liked, that whatever rules and standards are talked about, few are enforced, especially on a consistent basis. Children, whether they are two or 18, feel more confident when they […]

1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your child to focus on her many strengths. 2. Reinforce the positives. Give praise, recognition, a special privilege or increased responsibility for a job well done. 3. Define limits and rules clearly. A family council is an excellent place to discuss, explain and get a sense […]

It is good to remember a family is an organization. In fact, it is the basic organization of society. This is just one of the reasons I am such a proponent of family meetings. You wouldn’t think of running a successful business without a plan, goal setting meetings, team building sessions and clear missions and […]