I confess: When my firstborn was a baby, I occasionally wore the hat of helicopter parent. She would get frustrated or stuck or fussy, and I would swoop in to “save” her.
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Posts From: January 2010
Slammed doors, screaming matches, missed curfews — classic symptoms of an out-of control kid, according to family therapist Terry Real, ABC contributor and founder of Relational Life Institute. Continue reading { 1 comment }
Dear Annie,
My 2 1/2-year-old son can be very mean to my husband and in-laws. He kicks and yells at them, telling them to go away and not to talk to him and that only Momma can do anything. He acts like this for a little while after I leave, then he gets over it. I’ve been telling him it’s not nice and he’s hurting feelings. If I see it, I put him in time-out as I know he understands what he is doing. My husband and in-laws do the same. The majority of this acting out is not in my presence, so I’m at a loss as to what I can do to help stop these actions. Any tips or tricks to help get him over this phase would be great.
~Leah
Dear Leah,
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As the grim news from Haiti streamed across our TV screens this week, I was reminded of the weeks post 9/11 when I tried – often unsuccessfully – to balance my own feelings of despair and fear with my children’s need for comfort and reassurance. Continue reading
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We’ve all been glued to the TV sets, watching as Haiti copes with the tragic aftermath of a devastating earthquake. As a result, you might be struggling with how to talk to your children about the disaster and how to protect them from news-overload. Continue reading
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Dear Annie,
My two year old has become anti-bath. She’s never been keen on bathing, but over the last six months it’s become a real struggle. She starts to cry before I even turn the water on. We have tried baths with lots of toys, no toys, lots of water, little water, showers, bubbles, tub crayons, bathing suits, mommy getting in with her, sponge baths, using the big tub, using the baby tub, using the sink, and just about everything else you can think of.
Because of the struggle I only bathe her 2 to 3 times a week, which is okay since she doesn’t get real messy. (She likes to be neat and clean but hates to take a bath.) When we do put her in the bath we try playing and calming her down but then just end up rushing through it to get her out. It’s very stressful for all and I don’t know what else to try. Please help.
~Kate
Dear Kate,
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I’ve done a lot of things right as a mom, but when it came to homework hassles, I deserved an “F.” Continue reading
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Like a ghost, she’s haunted us for decades — the “perfect” mom. She sports a chic wardrobe, cooks healthy food her kids actually eat, excels in the boardroom, and still schedules couple time with her husband. She never loses her cool and has all the answers. Of course, like a ghost, there’s very little evidence she even exists.
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Parenting an adolescent can be challenging, but Deborah Skolnik of Parenting magazine lists the reasons it can also be a blast.
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When you think about teens and substance abuse, you probably imagine scary scenarios involving alcohol or illegal drugs. I doubt the bathroom cabinet even flashes through your mind. Continue reading
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