February 18, 2022
top trending topics
🚫 Steer clear of these mistakes when it comes to teens. Hang in there parents!
📲 All you need to know about setting screen time limits for your teen.
✍️ You’re the best person to decide on a counselor for your child or teen.
🗣️ Get convos flowing in your home & help them grow with these topics.
😓 Feeling like your family ignores you? Here’s what you need to know.
tips & tricks for growth
parenting doesn’t have to feel like a constant power struggle
By Gena Ellis
“NO!” Do you remember how you felt the first time your child dead-eyed defied you? As a parent of very strong-willed sons, I remember the first time my oldest said, “NO!” when I asked him to pick up his toys in the living room. I was so taken aback I said to myself, “I must have misheard him.” I repeated, “Please pick up your toys.” He matter-of-factly repeated, “NO.”
As a parent, I had just entered the Wild West. Gone was my compliant, sweet child. He was replaced with this toddler-gunslinger who shot down everything I said.
Here’s how you can keep your sheriff’s badge during power struggles:
🚨 Remember, you are in charge.
🚨 Choose your battles wisely.
🚨 Give your child choices.
🚨 Be specific and make it fun!
🚨 Don’t be afraid to deputize the universe.
To remain in charge, you have to keep your cool.
handling toxic family members
Have you ever noticed that every time you leave a certain family member’s presence, you feel worse than you did before you saw them?
Have you ever noticed that your aunt gossips all the time?
Or that your future in-laws criticize your every move?
Or that your own parents are more controlling now than ever?
And what about that uncle who doesn’t care what you’re doing—he thinks it’s okay to show up whenever he wants.
Toxic family members make your head hurt. They are poisonous to your health. They can drain you emotionally every time they are around.
How do you recognize toxic family members?
- When you leave their presence, you often feel worse than you did before.
- They want to control your life. They tell you the decisions you should make, how you should spend your money, and the people you should be friends with.
- You feel that they seem to always criticize you—your parenting, your cooking, your house management, anything and everything.
- They may be physically, verbally, or emotionally abusive.
- They always “need” you to come to their rescue.
It’s important to deal with the toxicity. Your mental and emotional health—and maybe even your physical health—can depend on it.
what we’re lovin’
This week’s picks come from Tamara Slocum, our Creative Strategist. She’s been married to her college sweetheart, Bobby, since 2012 and together they have 3 amazing girls (6 yrs old and under!) Whew. 😅 She’s got her hands full and still took the time to give her recommendations because they are just THAT GOOD. Check ’em out:
💬 @raisinglittletalkers on Instagram has amazing insights on how you can help improve your little one’s speech and language development. She’s even got a free milestone checklist (www.raisinglittletalkers.com/insta)—for kids 3 months to 3 years—to get you started!
📚 A Little Spot of… Anger/Happiness/Love/Confidence/Anxiety/Sadness– This children’s book series is a must-have for teaching social-emotional skills! Each book walks through several situations relevant to that emotion and offers guidance on how to best manage their emotion spot! With creative strategies and clever mantras, these books give children the tools they need to identify their emotions and properly manage them. 10/10!
🕯️ Watch: Encanto– If you’re a parent and haven’t been listening to “Surface Pressure” on repeat or any of the truly amazing songs from the latest Disney movie, stop whatever you’re doing and watch it. Right. Now.
share the love
Know a friend who would love reading all the relationship goodness we’ve packed in here? Go ahead and share it with them!
Was This Helpful?
Did this blog give you the information you were looking for and give you tools to help improve your relationships?
