Susan’s Sharings

I have 2 kids -- 6 1/2 and 5 years old. My husband works long hours and I am alone with them most of the time. It seems like all I do is scream and yell, because my stress level is so high. Money is short and I'm tired all the time. When something breaks down --...

Most children feel like the majority of our conversations with them are focused on getting them to do something they don’t want to do. They see us coming, list in hand (literally or figuratively) and brace themselves to resist as long as possible. Typically, whatever it is we want them to do is much less enjoyable than what they’re already doing.

Think about it. Your daughter is tucked into a warm bed, cozy and happy, knowing she’s home with Mommy, and life is good. Your first interaction of the day is designed to remove her from that yummy bed and get her clothes on so she can leave home and go to a place where someone else tells her what to do for six hours. I’m not suggesting she shouldn’t go to school, or that she won’t enjoy it once she gets there, but for most children, there’s a strong preference to be at home, which means the battles begin from the moment they awaken.

This week, I did private consults with two different families for a version of the same problem: kids who could not handle it when their parents said "No." In one case, the dad of a teen said his son became furious if Dad said he couldn't have something he wanted....

Not long ago, I found myself in conversation with a young daddy. He volunteered that he and his wife had an 18 month old who had been having frequent tantrums. "We give him the silent treatment. It makes him really mad but if we ignore him, eventually he stops."...

I love my kids, but I yell at them much more often than I'd like. What can I do to keep my cool when they act badly? This is one of my most frequently asked parenting questions! No matter how much we love our babies, the reality is that family life isn't always smooth...

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were restful, even though I imagine that for some of you, the end of the holiday season may bring more peace and quiet! I had almost three weeks unplugged from my computer and it was heavenly. I played around with watercolor...

'Tis the season,' as the saying goes. But the season for what? For some, the holidays are a time of love, joy, and laughter. Those of us fortunate to celebrate in comfort with loving friends and family may look forward to this time of year with happy anticipation. But...

Several years ago, I discussed narcissistic personality disorder with Wendy Behary, an expert in the field, for a series I hosted on Co-Parenting Without Power Struggles. The response was surprising and overwhelming --- there is so much need for information on this...