“Just come and get this kid!” was often the plea I heard from parents as a volunteer on the Family Helpline. By the time parents made the call to the Family Helpline they had already done everything they could think of to reach their child and get them to listen or obey. They … [Read more...] about Ten Tools For Parents
parenting
What I Learned about Getting My Needs Met
Parents often selflessly put aside their wants and needs for their children and that is admirable but what does that actually accomplish? Parents may begin to feel drained of energy or burnt out. When I came to my first Parents Anonymous meeting I was anxious to fix everything … [Read more...] about What I Learned about Getting My Needs Met
Limits and Dealing with Upsetting News Events
Setting limits can help lessen stress and reduce the impact of network news. My grandmother Mur used to say, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any at all,” then she would coyly giggle. Having been born in 1912, she certainly learned to deal with many difficult … [Read more...] about Limits and Dealing with Upsetting News Events
Choosing Corporal Punishment
Parents have many decisions ahead of them when babies grow into young children: vegan or meat, car or van, spanking or non-violence. When any parent chooses to use corporal punishment it makes sense for them to have a goal in mind. The usual goal might be to teach the … [Read more...] about Choosing Corporal Punishment
Choose Your Battles Wisely
As a parent of two special needs kids, I learned long ago to choose my battles wisely. There's no point in trying to tackle all of the problems at once because you'll drive yourself and your kids crazy. So what's important and what can wait?Obviously safety is first and foremost. … [Read more...] about Choose Your Battles Wisely
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to