Are You Responsible For Other People’s Children?
On Saturday, I happened to see a couple of neighborhood kids I know hanging out on a corner of a busy street, fairly far from home. I got a little concerned, wondering if they were allowed to be running around where they were. I was also worried they might cross the busy street and wander further from home. I could have turned the other cheek because after all, they were not my kids. And who am I to get involved in other people’s family lives, right? That is how some moms feel. Or at least...
Read More10 Reasons to Consider a Nanny Who is a Mom
Finding the right nanny can be a really difficult and frustrating experience and it’s true that some parents go into it with pre-conceived notions of what a nanny should or should not be like (young and fun or older and experienced, etc.). We aren’t really sure why that is the case but over the years I have had some parents tell me that they would prefer to not have a nanny that has her own children. I think that’s really too bad because there are many reasons to consider Moms. Just being...
Read More10 Certifications a Babysitter Might Have, and Why It Matters
Last week I was talking with a client about the importance of getting regular exercise in her life. She herself really wanted to be working out on a consistent basis, but there was something holding her back. She was a member of Lifetime Fitness, and could easily take her three year old to the fitness club with her, but she felt uneasy about the babysitter that was watching the children in their childcare facility. Now I won’t go into details about what was making her feel...
Read MoreThe Best Time for Bilingual Education – Early Childhood Learning
Of course, nobody knows what the future will hold – but if current trends continue, your child will grow up to enter a workforce in which the competition for decent-paying jobs will be nothing short of cut-throat. Despite the calls for greater co-operation and "interdependence," human nature being what it is, it's a good bet that the economy of the the future will operate according to the Law of the Jungle. It goes without saying that a good education is one of the best ways...
Read MoreHelping with Chores Opens Doors
“One reason dinosaurs became extinct is because they could not adapt to changes in their environment.” It’s hard to imagine now because today’s parents teach their daughters how to change a flat tire and put on new windshield wiper blades and sons are taught to cook and do laundry, but there was a time when young women and young men were not encouraged or expected to learn some of these basic life skills. You remember those days, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and chores were...
Read More21 Ways to Turn your Family from Good to Great
One week ago I hung up the phone with a mother who was one of my former clients. In a frantic voice she said to me, “I can’t focus on coaching right now. I’m in survival mode.” I felt sad because I knew, and she knew there were several things she wanted to work on. And in survival mode, it probably wasn’t going to happen. Sadly, a lot of families operate in survival mode. Life is “okay” or “good”, but it’s not “great”. Here are 21 ways to turn your...
Read MoreI’m So Exhausted: 4 Tips to Combat Parental Burnout
by Erin Schlicher, Parental Support Line Advisor Are you often exhausted as a parent? Do you regularly feel drained, overwhelmed and off-balance when it comes to raising your kids? It’s hard for every parent, but when your children have tough behavioral problems, like ADHD, frequent defiance or other chronic acting-out behaviors, the task of raising them to adulthood can sometimes feel like you’re climbing a mountain without adequate supplies or the right equipment. This week, Erin...
Read MoreWho is the Head Chore Chief?
Ever have one of those days or weekends when everything bothers you? Well, I had one of those days this past weekend. As I stared at the messy kitchen in front of me, I got crabbier and crabbier. My younger son was having fun on the computer, and my husband was buried behind his computer, oblivious to the mess all around him. It seemed that the only one bothered by all the clutter was me. So I dug in to start cleaning the kitchen. As I was washing down the kitchen counters, I...
Read MoreDo You Share Responsibilities in Your Family?
One of the frustrating aspects of being a mom is feeling like all the responsibilities for the house, our children, social planning, errands, doctor’s appts., etc. fall on us. Many of us work just like our husband, and some of us even have help from our husband with the various aspects of managing a family. But when it comes down to it, the brundt of these tasks, or even the planning of how these tasks are going to get done still land in our lap. Our husband might say “Just ask...
Read MoreBuilding Your Olympic Team
I absolutely love the Olympics, and women’s gymnastics is by far my favorite event. Ever since I was a teenager, I have watched the Olympics. I remember watching when Nadia Comaneci was the Olympic champion and the first ever to receive a perfect 10. At the time, we were very close in age and I cut out every magazine picture and article I could find on her. I truly admired her. Tonight was no different as I was glued to the television watching China and USA women compete in...
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