positive discipline

Connection Before Correction: How Attachment Leads Our Discipline Style

February 27, 2013

In my parenting, the goal of obedience doesn’t exist. It’s important to emphasize the part about it being a goal. Notice that I didn’t say, “Obedience doesn’t exist in our household.” I mean that our children’s obedience to my husband and me is not something we specifically aim for. I get its importance, though, and I [...]

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Why Kids Don’t Need Praise (And What They Need Instead)

February 1, 2013

Recently, I was chatting with a mom at the playground about kids’ behavior, and she commented to me that kids need praise and approval from their parents, as there are too many dysfunctional adults in the world to indicate otherwise. To this, my response was, “I think what they need more than praise and approval [...]

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Our Children’s Behavior and How We Respond to the Challenges

November 26, 2012

I was recently asked by a few people to write on the subject of behavior and how I deal with my boys when things aren’t smooth and easy. Tonight feels like the night to share on this subject. Today was a crazy, challenging day and somehow, we all survived and communicated through it without anyone [...]

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Parenting Beyond the Rule Book

September 19, 2012

Recently, each of my kids has made a comment about family rules lately that made me realize: we don’t have any. Well, nothing formal anyway. Not to give you the impression that our home is a chaotic free-for-all, devoid of any kind of morality. I like order and manners and helpful contributions as much as [...]

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Nighttime Parenting Isn’t Always Pretty

January 16, 2012

My first had always been a good sleeper. We co-slept through about 18 months or so, and when we moved, Little Man jumped right into his big-boy bed and that’s where he wanted to sleep. After I had my second child, we went through a phase where Little Man would wander into my bed in [...]

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The Man in The Yellow Hat Exemplifies Positive Discipline

December 12, 2011

A few of my parent friends have pointed out that as much as their kids enjoy watching the PBS show “Curious George”, George always gets into trouble (makes a mess, does something wrong, doesn’t stay where he’s supposed to, etc…) and nothing ever happens to him for it.  He never gets punished or has a [...]

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AP and Spanking Don’t Mix

July 27, 2011

Many parents, even many of those who are focused on creating a secure attachment with their child, spank as a form of discipline.  They may say things like… “I only spank when….” “I only spank after I’ve tried [XYZ] first.” “Spanking is OK when it’s done [a certain way], but not [a certain other way].” [...]

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A Look at Your Discipline Style

May 19, 2011

I lead a meeting for the S. Austin Attachment Parenting chapter this morning on finding your discipline style. So often parents talk about what they don’t want to do: spank, shame, do what their parents did, etc. Figuring out what they do want to do is harder, especially when they didn’t have good models. Before [...]

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