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Post tagged with kids

Throwing It All Away: When Good Kids Make Bad Choices

September 27th, 201110:29 AM ET

By Empowering Parents

As a family therapist, over the years many parents have come to me and said, "My child has so much going for him, but he's just throwing his life away. Why is he doing drugs? Why is he dropping out of school? Why is he making terrible choices with his life when he has so much potential?" I'll never forget the mother who said in exasperation...
Child Discipline: Consequences and Effective Parenting

September 09th, 201103:54 PM ET

By Empowering Parents

Remember how you felt when you brought your baby home from the hospital for the first time? When your child was an infant, you probably acknowledged that you were anxious and unsure of what you were doing at times—most new parents are. In my experience, those kinds of feelings continue as we raise our kids—we just stop expressing them to ot...
Is Your Teenager Driving You Crazy?

March 11th, 201004:21 PM ET

By Mark Gregston

There is much in the news these days about cars accelerating out of control, leaving the driver and passengers helpless to know how to slow down or stop their runaway vehicle. That's kind of what it is like in a family with a teenager who is out of control. The whole family gets swept along for the not so joyful ride. Is your family experiencing a...
Why Kids Tell Lies And What To Do About It

February 22nd, 201005:27 PM ET

By Empowering Parents

Q: When your child lies to you, it hurts. As parents, it makes us angry and we take it personally. We feel like we can never trust our child again. Why does lying cause such anger, pain and worry for parents? James: Parents are understandably very afraid of their children getting hurt and getting into trouble, but they have very little protection ...
Shame and Anger: The Emotional Handcuffs of Parenting

February 08th, 201012:33 PM ET

By Empowering Parents

One of the unaddressed elements of children's behavior is the pain that families go through, knowing that others are judging them. Because the fact is, they are being judged. When parents have to go to school constantly because of their kid's outbursts, when they get in conflicts with the neighbors because of the kid's behavior, when they're at th...
“I Want It Now!” How to Challenge a False Sense of Entitlement in Kids

January 22nd, 201004:10 PM ET

By Empowering Parents

Almost as soon as your child begins to talk, you'll start to hear him ask for things. In fact, when an infant cries, he's asking for food or to be made more comfortable. By the time he reaches the age of four or five, his constant refrain becomes: "Can I have this, Mom? Can I have that?" The unending requests for new toys or candy and an "I want it...
How to Give Kids Consequences That Work

January 20th, 201011:10 AM ET

By Empowering Parents

A consequence is something that follows naturally from a person's action, inaction or poor decision. It differs from a punishment in that a punishment is retribution. Punishment is "getting back" at someone, to hurt them back for a hurt they did. When you get a speeding ticket, it's not a retribution for something you did wrong. It's a consequence ...
Sudden Behavior Changes in Children Part II: 7 Things You Can Do Today

January 19th, 201008:59 AM ET

By Empowering Parents

This week, James tells you how to handle the specific changes you might suddenly see in your child during adolescence, from backtalk to attitude to slipping grades. I believe parents go through something similar to the stages of grief when their kids go through adolescence. The family that once had a loving and eager son or daughter, someone who ...
Sick of Your Kid’s Backtalk? Here’s How to Stop It

December 22nd, 200911:26 AM ET

By Empowering Parents

As a parent, sometimes it seems like your day is filled with an endless stream of backtalk from your kids-you hear it when you ask them to do chores, when you tell them it's time to stop watching TV, and when you lay down rules they don't like. It's one of the most frustrating and exhausting things that we deal with when we raise our kids. Backtal...

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