Sassy Kids: How to Deal with a Mouthy Child
by James Lehman, MSW Are you tired of disrespectful talk from your kids? Do your children respond with eye-rolling and sarcasm to everything you say? Most—if not all—kids go through phases when they are sassy, mouthy, or disrespectful. As a parent, it’s hard to know when to let it slide—and when to address the problem. James Lehman explains where to draw the line—and tells you how you can manage sassy talk in your home. If you don’t respond to a behavior and give it power, the...
Read MoreOne Organizational Myth – Three Reasons to Embrace the Truth
Last weekend, while I was at church, my cell phone was stolen from my car, along with my wallet and pink iPod. So for all of last week, I tried operating my schedule off a 5×7 piece of paper because my electronic schedule was being sold so someone could get a quick fix. How do I know? Because my wallet was found in the trash can outside a liquor store. But that’s not the point. The point is that it’s been a nightmare with only one organizational tool missing from my life. Do you...
Read MoreHow the Information Junkie Can Manage all Her Papers
Are you an information junkie? Do you think you have to save every note sent home from school, or every art project your kids create? Do you save every email that you receive “just in case” you might need it? Magazines sit around because you have every intention to read them one day. Maybe you save advertisements, church bulletins, coupons, and other interesting pieces of information because it all seems very useful and relevant at the time. When you do this, what ends up happening? You...
Read MoreGot Working Mom Guilt? – Questions to Help Alleviate the Guilt
I have one vivid memory from when I was a working mom (I still am a working mom; I just work from home now). My son Kai was about 2 years old, and I was dropping him off at his daycare provider. For some reason, he did not want to stay. Desperately reaching out for me to take him, he was screaming and crying. As I was walking down the stairs to leave for work, I remember feeling like such a horrible mom. I wanted to just take him with me to work. According to the National Women’s...
Read MoreMy Child Melts Down When I Try to Take a Mommy Timeout
Q. First I want to say "thank you". Yesterday was a terrible mommy day for me. I think I hit an all time low in my confidence as a mom. I was always a very confident mom who spent a lot of time with my daughter. Of course, that was much easier when it was just her and I, and I was surrounded by family and friends (and babysitters, so I could be something other than just mom sometimes). Now I'm married and have one more sweet little girl. The challenge is in being a military family away from my...
Read MoreFinding Acceptance in Suspending Judgment
The other day I was reading a very inspirational post from Moxie Momma called “Giving Up vs. Letting Up”. As she reflected on her son, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, and all that she has learned through this journey, she was questioning whether or not she had done everything she could for her son. At the moment she decided to stop trying to fix him, was she giving up or just letting up? I can so relate to what she was saying because I, too, have a son with a...
Read MorePositive Ways to Deal with Tough Parenting Challenges
As a parent, there are many challenges that you must face and some of them may be particularly tough because you just aren’t sure how to deal with them. No parent knows how to deal with every situation because every situation is unique to a particular family. Here are five examples of tough parenting challenges that you may face and positive solutions on how to deal with these challenges. Staying Calm when one or all of your children are having a meltdown This is hard for any parent...
Read More12 Energy Drains and Tips to Eliminate Them
Are you frequently physically, mentally and emotionally drained? Have you ever wondered why? There are several different areas in your life that can be causing you to lack the energy to have the best days you can. Listed below are several circumstances or situations that could be draining your energy and a solution to help you accomplish the things you desire. Disorganization Ever get tired of running around looking for what you need? Pick the area in your home that is the most...
Read MoreJanice’s Success with Lightening her Load
Janice came to me several weeks ago in distress. She had spent the weekend arguing with her husband over the clutter in their home. Both she and her husband had reached a point of complete frustration and hopelessness. Janice felt like a failure as a mom, housekeeper and wife. I knew she wasn’t a failure, but I needed to help her see that she wasn’t. So we set up a meeting to discuss what was going on, but more importantly, sketch out a plan to put her back on the road to...
Read More20 Things Moms Don’t Have to Feel Guilty About
Uugh. Mommy guilt. Will it ever go away? Here’s the scoop about guilt. Guilt reinforces this idea that who we are as moms is not okay. It diminishes our self-confidence and self-respect. Guilt makes you feel like you are undeserving and it holds you back from being who you were created to be. Besides, it starts this vicious cycle of guilt that is hard to break. So I thought I would give you 20 things you definitely don’t need to feel guilty about. Now...
Read MoreA Parent’s Prayer for their Teens
Dear God, I need to talk to you for a minute about these kids you gave me. First of all, let me make this clear. I adore them. They amaze me, million different times throughout each day. They are clearly your creation and not my own. And for this, I am thankful. I could have never come up with something this wonderful, even if you had asked me to write out what I had in mind on paper before they were born. But, I want you to know that I am scared. The world looks to me, as their parent, to...
Read MoreEarning the Eagle’s Badge
The moral of this story is: Never underestimate the power and influence of a father on his children. “You do not have to believe in a war to support the people who serve in it.” I collect antique, vintage, and new eagle quilts, not the wildlife variety, but the patriotic version because they remind me of my favorite teacher. He was a salesman by occupation, but a teacher by heart, who taught me how to ride a bike, make pie crusts from scratch with his “secret” ingredient, how...
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