Susan’s Sharings

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...

If you have a moment, ask yourself this question: When was the last time you felt a silly, or laughed out of sheer enjoyment? When was the last time you did something completely unproductive...but light and joyful? If you can't remember the last time you had fun,...

I know this about myself: I love tidiness. I find it very comforting to be in spaces that are clean and organized. I also know this: I wasn't born a tidy person. Years ago, when I was a young mother with kids in and out of the house, I would often feel ashamed about...

My husband and I have been watching a show which follows the reign of Queen Victoria from the time she learns, at the age of 18, that her uncle has died, making her Queen of England. Victoria is a strong young woman, but she struggles to determine which of her...

I have worked with thousands of parents and children over my career, and one of the most heart-breaking things I hear from kids is when they share how invisible they feel. These kids confess that nearly all the conversations they have with their parents focus on what...