Should I let my child close their bedroom door?

A common question from parents of young children is, “Should I let my child close their bedroom door?” or from parents of older teens, “My child wants a lock for their bedroom door, is this a good idea?” * Why does this matter? An optimal way to help your child learn...

Let it go

It’s  a disservice to say “let it go” to loved ones or any “ones” who are  caught in a thought or behavior pattern or an addiction that is not  working for them. * “Let  it go” makes it sound easy, as if you’d get the same, immediate outcome ...

A Strategy for Grace: For yourself and others

The holidays (and regular days!) can create a lower stress threshold, causing even simple things others say or do to become annoying. When chronic annoyance is present, it is the annoyed, not the annoyer, who has some work to do. Impatience, annoyance,...

Conversations with my Children: Mackenzie Makes a Decision

 Conversations with my Children My daughter, Mackenzie, was deciding whether to give her first boyfriend another chance (actually a 3rd chance), or to end the relationship. When the relationship started, she was 19, he was 21. He held many wonderful qualities and was...

The Essentials of Shame, Part 3

The Essentials of Shame, Part 3 In Part 1, we talked about why shame is chosen. In Part 2, we dove into how each parenting style affects the development of shame. What now? What if you carry shame from childhood, or can see that you say and do things that may be...
Off-Screen Ways to Connect with Your Teen

Off-Screen Ways to Connect with Your Teen

Ten Off-Screen Ways to Connect with Your Teen: And Ten Ways to Connect Using Screens, by Cara Day If you do some simple math when your child starts high school, you’ll discover that you only have about 1,350 days, or 192 weeks left with your child before they head off…

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Making the Family Mealtime Stick

Making the Family Mealtime Stick

Making the Family Mealtime Stick, by Cara Day Research shows regular family meals have many benefits for family members. Criteria for family meal: Seated at shared table All or most family members present No technology on during meal Meals at least 3 or more times per...

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The Real Deal on Your Child’s Imaginary Friend

The Real Deal on Your Child’s Imaginary Friend

The Real Deal on Your Child's Imaginary Friend, by Cara Day 1. It's important for parents to know that about one-third of children will create an imaginary friend and those friends will typically stick around for a few days to a few years. Contrary to a common...

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