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Posted on March 24, 2016 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

Spring Presence

Practicing Mindfulness in Family Life The sun is nervous as a kite that can’t quite keep its own string tight. Some days are fair, and some are raw. The timid earth decides to thaw. Shy budlets peep from twigs on trees, and robins join the chickadees. Pale crocuses poke through the ground like noses come …

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Posted on March 17, 2016 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

When Kids Question Everything

It just started happening seemingly out of the blue. “Why can’t I watch PG-13 rated movies? I know kids in my class who do.” “Why do I always have to go upstairs for bed at 7:00? The neighbors all get to stay up later.” And then what seems like minutes later, I hear “Why do …

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Posted on February 4, 2016 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

Teaching Kids Empathy and Ethics with Money

If you are concerned about your children making a living in the world on their own someday, you are not alone. And because financial acumen is not typically a rigorous part of school curricula, we know, as parents, it’s up to us to help our children. It’s likely you’ve considered teaching your child about money …

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Posted on January 21, 2016 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

Home Base – Creating a Safe Haven for Calming Down

“I call base!” my son would say at any place and any time in the days when he was first introduced to the game of tag. If he wanted to end the tickling or stop the chasing, he would claim a piece of furniture, staircase banister or corner of the room as his safe haven. …

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Posted on January 14, 2016 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

Morning Routine Redux – Adjusting to Winter Weather

“Where are your gloves? Uuuuhhhrrrr!” I growled this morning. Hats, gloves, boots, shoes and socks have been strewn everywhere through our tiny hallway and into our kitchen from our side door – so much so that I can’t walk without stepping on some article of clothing. I thought we were doing okay in the mornings. …

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Posted on January 12, 2016 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

Directing Kids’ Energy When Indoors

As I watched kids of all ages, bundled in hats and gloves, burst out of the school building at pick up time yesterday, I thought about the exercise they weren’t getting (during indoor recess) and the energy my son would need to exert when he got home. The snow continued to fall and he had …

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Posted on December 21, 2015 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

On NBC’s Parent Toolkit – “Second Chances – Teaching Children about Forgiveness”

    In this busy holiday season, tensions and conflicts can arise easily. And old wounds can resurface as we encounter family and friends we may not see regularly. This is an ideal time to think about how you are encouraging forgiveness with your family members. Read the following and gain some simple ideas. Put …

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Posted on December 15, 2015 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

On the Ashoka Changemaker Education Series – “How Can We Help Children Develop Gratitude?”

Thanks Ashoka Changemaker Education for sharing my article on Medium! Check it out… How can we help children develop gratitude? If you worry and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings. – Count your Blessings, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, 1942 It’s true. People who think …

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Posted on December 1, 2015 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

Redefining Giving for Our Family

How Can Giving Become Personal and Meaningful? Several weeks ago, my husband, son and I were zipping to the mailbox to drop in a few letters before going downtown to a symphony concert. My husband pulled up and I hopped out of the car to mail the letters. As I approached the mailbox, I noticed …

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Posted on November 23, 2015 by confidentparentsconfidentkids

“Promoting a Spirit of Gratefulness in Kids…” on NBC’s Parent Toolkit

Check out my article “Promoting a Spirit of Gratefulness in Kids – A Tale of Two Letters” on today’s NBC Parent Toolkit Blog. It recounts an experience with my own son, relates it to the research on raising grateful kids and offers a number of simple ways to promote gratitude. Why should we be concerned …

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