Tag empathy
So You Killed The Cat….Now What?
โDo you think we should tell the kids what really happened? What they donโt know wonโt hurt them, right?โ We received this question when a parent accidentally ran over the sleeping, aging family cat. What would you say if theyโฆ
How to Break the Cycle of Crabbiness and Negativity
โIโm bored. No one wants to play with me. I hate my classes and that teacher. Iโm no good at anything! Everything is just dumb!โ Sound familiar? Kids can be pretty good at complaining and crabbing their way to getโฆ
The Powerful Role of Empathy in Discipline
Could it be that one of the main reasons Jesus is so appealing to us, a reason we want to follow him, is that we see throughout scripture that he โgetsโ people?He knows us. He understands us. He meets usโฆ
6 Practical Ways To Show Love to Kids
One of the best times to show love to your kids is when they are misbehaving. Anger, frustration, and lecturing are standard reactions to a kid who does something wrong, but do they work to change behavior? I worked withโฆ
“It was hard to be mad when you were so kind to me.”
In my role as a parenting speaker I do a lot of role plays with people in the audience. Though I had seen a lot of yelling, whining, and laughter from these role plays, I had never seen tears —โฆ
Why Itโs Good That Your Kids Donโt 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, โYou are loved no matter what!โ Often, communicating empathy in the midst of misbehavior takesโฆ
Communicate Love to Your Kids. Use Words When Necessary.
When kids melt down, we often advise parents to respond with empathy, by saying out loud what the kiddo might be feeling. But sometimes we can communicate everything we need to — without words.
Skiing, Tears, and Grace
At a recent ski meet I found myself twice in tears for people I’ve never met.ย The first time was when a young competitor “skied out,” meaning he missed a gate and was disqualified from the race. Nearby his parents gaspedโฆ
One Mom’s Journey from Fighting to Dancing
Julia was fed up. Her kids fought daily about their responsibilities, and Julia was at the end of her patience. Daily power struggles were beginning to define their relationships as the kids grew more discouraged and Julia more determined to stop the โmisbehavior.โ So Julia came to us for help.
Don’t stuff your kids’ feelings
Kids usually do the best they know how to express their feelings. The best they can do is usually quite immature and unrefined. A problem occurs when, instead of validating our kidsโ best efforts to express their feelings, we minimize,โฆ