Why We Think “Showing Kids What’s What” Doesn’t Actually Work

Rick was feeling impatient with the way his wife was dealing with their children’s misbehavior. He shared his thoughts with me during a recent conversation:
How to Avoid Being Taken Hostage by Kids’ Demands

Parents sometimes feel like hostages to the intense demands of their children, intimidated into submission with the threat of “the big gun” – a deafening
Why It’s Good That Your Kids Don’t Believe You

When kids melt down, we often counsel parents to respond with empathy. When you truly understand your struggling child, it strongly communicates the essential message,
How do I get my son to stop talking back?

How do I get my 7-year-old son to stop talking back to everything we say? He is always right and we are always wrong! …
The Great Thing About Yelling…

The great thing about yelling is that it helps a parent unload a lot of frustration and for the moment feel a sense of control.
Is “Being the Parent” Actually Good Parenting?

I just read another decent parenting book by a well-known author. It’s got some good ideas in it about how to manage kids’ misbehavior. But
Why Kids Explode and What to Do About It

Just like us, our kids sometimes react angrily when something important to them feels attacked. First expressions of anger are almost always aggressive. As kids
A Parenting Fairy Tale…

Once upon a time, near a woods far away, there was a family named the Scrumpkins. Bingle (the dad) and Kalinda (the mom) were fearful
What Causes Power Struggles and How Can I Stop Them?
Recently CF co-founder Lynne Jackson sat down with Chad Hayenga, one of CF’s Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, to get his take on a common
“How Do I Get My Kids to Do What I Want?”

“No matter how hard you try, you simply cannot control another person’s behavior. You can only influence it.” ~Dr. Scott Larson from “When Teens Stray”
“Why Can’t You Just Do What I Say?”

I’m often tempted to discipline my children with the goal of gaining immediate results. While this might get me what I want in the moment,


