parenting
You can care too much about winning your parents’ approval
Monday, April 28th, 2008My last post was about adults who carry to their graves the wounding and scars they got from their parents. These adults never grow up mentally, emotionally and spiritually. They never leave their parents’ mental and emotional homes, even if they leave physically.
While watching the John Adams mini-series, I saw a classic example.
Getting over parents who wound their children: the 2nd stage of growing up and leaving home
Friday, April 25th, 2008Obviously there are great parents. And there are children who repeatedly wound their parents. But let’s focus on parents who repeatedly wounded their children … and still continue to bully and control them even after the children have become adults.
Whether that’s done consciously and intentionally, or the parents are righteous and oblivious to the effects […]
The 9 Circles of Trust
Monday, April 14th, 2008Whether you’re thinking of personal relationships or the workplace or you’re teaching your children, how can you know who to trust?
Some people think that it’s morally and spiritually advanced to start by trusting everyone. You’re somehow a bad person if you don’t trust people. After all, you get what you put out. Other people say […]
How to correct your children and say “No” to them
Sunday, March 9th, 2008Recently, I’ve seen articles and heard parents saying that since words can hurt, we shouldn’t deny our children what they want or ever say, “No” to them. They think that if we deny them or say “No”, we’ll damage their confidence and self esteem. But if we give them continual praise and approval, we’ll help them […]
How do you know if someone is your friend?
Friday, February 29th, 2008Dana is a seven-year old with a good heart. In order to help a new girl, Amanda, break into her school, Dana befriends her. She talks to the girl, hangs out with her on the playground and even has her mother arrange play-dates. Dana is cheerful and popular, and her efforts are successful. Other children […]
Teach children and teens to be resilient; don’t be defeated by disappointment, hostility, abuse, trauma or bullies.
Sunday, February 17th, 2008Are your children and teens resilient? Do they bounce back after they’ve been disappointed or faced hostility, bullies, abuse or trauma? Are you resilient? Do you know how to resist a hostile, abusive, controlling or bullying husband or wife? Can you resist your self-bullying tendencies? How about abusive, controlling or bullying friends, relatives or neighbors? […]
Teaching children to stop bullies at school
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008A recent article in the Wall Street Journal described a new “craze” to teach students not to become bullies. In “Learning by Cooing: Empathy Lessons From Little Tykes,” the Journal described the method used by a school in a Seattle suburb, among other schools, that puts 6 month old babies in front of children from […]
Teen acquitted in punch
Friday, January 11th, 2008Here in Colorado, the big news today is about a black teen acquitted for punching one of two teens who were taunting, harassing and threatening him. See below for details from some of the news stories.
Good for you Randall Nelson.
For parents of young children and teens, I’m commenting on one aspect that I often hear […]
Cyberbullying suicide case
Friday, January 11th, 2008I’ve been reading the news reports and postings about the cyberbullying suicide case. For example, “No Charges in Cyberbullying Suicide Case,” and “L.A. Grand Jury Investigates Web Suicide Case” and “Prosecutor Will Review Megan Meier Cyberbullying Case,” and “Mom: MySpace Hoax Led to Daughter’s Suicide,” and “Cyberbullying Suicide Stokes the Internet Fury Machine,” and “Prosecutor […]
Teens Bullying Parents
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008I read an interesting post, “Responding to Manipulation,” on the byparents-forparents blog which highlights the fact that teens will try to manipulate their parents. I see that problem all the time. It’s natural for children, especially as they become teenagers to try to get their parents to give them everything they want. But parents must […]