I asked my children to rattle off to me their happiest memories. Among their answers were family trips to amusement parks and attractions, lying under the stars and watching for meteors, outdoor movies, swimming at a waterpark, and seeing the ocean for the first time. They didn’t mention one single toy, which is exactly what I was hoping for as I was wanting to prove the point to my 8 year old son that it is experiences, not things, that bring us the most joy.

I’m glad I’m not a perfect parent. Here’s why.

We all want to raise emotionally intelligent children because we understand how beneficial it is to their health, happiness, and success. Yet, how are we handling our own emotions? Are we steady or easily thrown? Can we control our moods and impulses? Are we mindfully aware of our emotional states and how they are affecting our children and families? Are we able to meet our children with empathy or are we quick to dismiss, judge, or react? Emotional intelligence is just as important for us as it is for our children, and learning to manage our emotions will help us be a better and more joyful parent.

Many families are fortunate to be able to take their children to Disney every year or spend a week building sand castles by the sea, but there are also many families for whom such extravagant vacations are out of reach. When I was a kid, we never took a family vacation. My parents simply couldn’t afford it, yet my summers were my happiest times because I was free to play.

I don’t think I’m alone in this – I hate when my children feel bad. I don’t want them to have to feel sadness or loneliness, grief or pain. I wish they were in a permanent bubble of joy, and no bad feelings could touch them. When they come home from school feeling sad because they were rejected or when they feel angry because something didn’t go as they’d hoped or planned, my initial reaction is to make it better. Then come the questions I desperately want to ask. “Why did he not let you play?”

Positive Parenting works for all kids because kindness, respect, and love are universal. All human beings need these and all respond to them. This is the foundation of Positive Parenting.

When Father’s Day rolls around each year, I’m all over it. I take my kids to the store to pick out something special for Daddy. I sit down with them to make handmade cards. Last year we painted Super Dad trophies. In other words, I make an effort to teach my children to show love and appreciation to their dad on this special day. When Mother’s Day rolls around, I don’t quite get the same effort. Last year it was the end of the day when I finally said, “You know, it might be nice to have a card or something!” and my youngest son promptly scrawled on a blank sheet of paper and handed it to me. It’s not really the same if I have to ask for it, is it? I went to bed in tears, feeling very under appreciated.

Let’s talk about real life for a second, can we? Sometimes it just doesn’t go according to plan. We can be moving along just fine, being the kind of parent we feel good about being, then life throws something at us that knocks us completely off course. Maybe it’s the death of a friend or family member, or loss of a job or income, advice from a friend when you’re feeling vulnerable, or maybe it’s out-of-nowhere behavior from your child that completely baffles you and nudges you onto a different rail – one you’re not entirely comfortable traveling.

My boys have two weeks of school left, so we are counting down the days to summer vacation, but as a mom, I’m also counting down the number of summers I have left with them; nine with my youngest, and only seven with my oldest. Only nine more summers, and the beautiful days of childhood are gone forever.

Mother’s Day, like every other holiday, has been commercialized to turn a profit. In the scrambling for cards, flowers, and chocolate candies, perhaps the most important gifts are forgotten. Flowers are lovely, and cards are nice, but it’s the meaningful, heartfelt gifts that truly mean the most to us. This Mother’s Day, I’m giving this list to my family. I’m pretty sure any mother would be happy to receive something off this list as well, and not just for Mother’s Day, but any day!

Summer is nearly here, and so it’s time to start thinking about summer reading for your kids. If you have a child who loved the Harry Potter series or likes fantasy reads, here are some great book series to consider.

While there is no way to 100% bully-proof anyone, there are important skills we can teach our children to minimize the impact a bully has, to turn them away, and to help our children get out of sticky situations.

“Come on! Hurry up! I asked you to get your shoes on!” Sound familiar?

“You don’t take on storms; you weather them.” – Dr. Gordon Neufeld

“Affirmations are like seed planted in soil. Poor soil, poor growth. Rich soil, abundant growth. The more you choose to think thoughts that make you feel good, the quicker the affirmations work.” – Louise Hay

That tiny baby you held in your arms just yesterday is suddenly walking, talking, and full of attitude. She’s got spunk! He’s got style! They’ve got you wrapped around their little fingers, and those fingers are on your buttons. Toddlers are a whirlwind of fun, mess, challenge, and lots of love. This stage is...

It seems that sitting down together for a little parent/child craft time has more benefits than we realized. Sure, the kids love it and keeps them happily occupied, but did you know that it encourages key visual-processing skills, improves fine motor skills, and even improves their executive function (which helps with focus and memory).

Sharing is often a big topic among parents of toddlers and preschoolers. There are two big motivations for wanting our little ones to share. The first is that we naturally want to raise generous, kind people who think about the wants and needs of others. The second, if we’re being completely honest, is that it makes us look good when they share with others, and any opportunity to shine as a parent in a world that’s always telling us what we’re doing wrong is golden to us. The truth is...

It is spring at last! Whether you’re looking to banish spring break boredom or just searching for fun evening and weekend family activities, this bucket list is sure to give ideas and inspiration!

My son brought home a math paper with a bad grade on it last week. I was irritated with him because it wasn’t a hard math sheet. He knew how to do it; he just rushed through without working the problems out on paper. I said, “I need you to do better than this.” He replied, “But mom, you said in your book that I am more than a grade.”