Why Punching a Pillow When Angry Doesn’t Really Help Your Child
and what DOES help
Tag managing anger
Calming Yourself Before Going Into Discipline | Ep.109
“Why are you so mad all the time?” Do you ever hear this from your child? You probably don’t intend to look mad. You may not even be aware of your furrowed brow or irritated expression. And it’s especially hard…
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What’s Good About Being an Angry Parent?
Anger is tough to understand. Many parents, in the name of putting a stop to their kids’ misbehavior, tend to react quickly. This reaction usually doesn’t give much thought to the deeper layers of what’s going on in both the…
Dear Tired Dad, Here’s What I Wish I Could Say to the Young Me
Hey dad…are you tired? I see you, dad. You look tired and discouraged, but…you’re here. And based on your eye contact and nods, you are attentive. As Lynne and I present, your gaze is fixed. You write notes and take…
6 Practical Tips to Tame Your Temper
Disciplining misbehaving kids is often a difficult and emotion-laden task. If only you could figure out a way to tame your temper! Our oldest son Daniel sometimes said to Lynne, “Mom, you just bursted all over us!” And he was…
The Secret to Helping a Child Who is Always Angry
Some kids really struggle with their anger. It doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. It likely means they’re pretty sensitive and possibly have underlying stress that’s hard to express. Perhaps they simply haven’t learned better ways to express their anger.…
To Spank or Not to Spank?
If you work with Christian parents, it’s tempting to stay far away from the spanking debate. There are the “never spank” parents, the “immediate obedience or get spanked” parents, and everything in-between. The question over whether to spank or not…
What to Do When Kids Push Your Buttons
When kids act up, it’s a parent’s job to guide them through the difficulty. But kids’ trouble often pushes parents’ buttons. Need for control? Push. Desire for quick fixes? Push. Anxiety about what’s gonna happen with this demanding kid? Push.…
When Kids Just Won’t Obey: The Clash of Giants
I’ve blown it many times. But the following event stands out as an example of both a failure to live by the stuff I teach, and the power of the teaching. Upon reflection, it’s a tale of battling giants. One…
Do Your Questions Help or Hurt Your Kids?
Ed was trying to be patient and thoughtful, but he was at the end of his rope. Instead of helping him fix dinner, his two daughters were upstairs arguing loudly and disrespectfully. As he listened he thought to himself, “That’s…