The Chore System That Actually Works
The Chore System That Actually Works (Without the Power Struggles) Last week, a mom sat in my office and said something I’ll never forget: “I feel like I’m raising roommates who think dishes magically clean themselves.” She wasn’t angry — just exhausted. Her kids were 9 and 12, capable and kind, but somehow the simple […]
What Your Child’s Friendships Say About Their Heart
What Your Child’s Friendships Say About Their Heart Last week, a mom sat in my office fighting back tears. “My daughter had three kids over for her birthday,” she said. “Three. Meanwhile, my neighbor’s daughter had twenty-five.” She paused, looking almost embarrassed. “Does that mean something’s wrong with her? With us?” I leaned forward. “Tell […]
The Transition Trick That Saves Everyone’s Sanity
The Transition Trick That Saves Everyone’s Sanity Last Tuesday, I watched a four-year-old named Mia absolutely lose it in my office waiting room. Not because she was hurt or hungry — but because her dad had the audacity to tell her it was time to leave the playground and come inside. The meltdown was spectacular: […]
Why ‘Because I Said So’ is Backfiring
Why ‘Because I Said So’ Is Backfiring (And What Actually Works Instead) Last week, a dad in my practice — let’s call him Marcus — slumped into the chair across from me and said, “I don’t get it. My parents said ‘because I said so,’ and I listened. I say it to my son, and […]
The Bedtime Secret That Builds Emotional Intelligence
The Bedtime Secret That Builds Emotional Intelligence Last week, a mom in my practice collapsed into the couch cushions during our session and whispered, “I just can’t do the bedtime battle anymore.” Her five-year-old had been resisting sleep for months — demands for water, suddenly urgent questions about dinosaurs, elaborate negotiations worthy of a corporate […]
What Your Child’s Drawings Reveal About Their Inner World
What Your Child’s Drawings Reveal About Their Inner World Last week, a mom came into my office clutching a crumpled piece of paper like it held state secrets. “Look at this,” she whispered, smoothing out her six-year-old’s drawing. It showed their family — but she and her husband were tiny stick figures in the corner […]
The Homework Battle That’s Not About Homework
The Homework Battle That’s Not About Homework Last week, a mom sat in my office with tears in her eyes. “We spent two hours fighting over a math worksheet last night,” she said. “Two hours. For ten problems. And by the end, we were both crying.” She paused, then whispered the part that hurt most: […]
Why Your Anxious Child Needs This One Phrase
Why Your Anxious Child Needs This One Phrase A mom told me about her eight-year-old daughter who was refusing to go to school. “She kept saying her stomach hurt,” the mom explained, eyes welling up. “I took her to three doctors. They all said she was fine. But every morning, she’d cry and cling to […]
The Screen Time Solution Nobody Talks About
The Screen Time Solution Nobody Talks About Last week, a mom sat in my office and said something I’ll never forget: “I feel like I’m fighting a war I can’t win. My eight-year-old has a meltdown every time I ask him to turn off his iPad, and honestly? Some days I just… give up. Then […]
What I Wish I Knew About Developmental Leaps
What I Wish I Knew About Developmental Leaps Last Tuesday, I sat across from a mother who looked like she hadn’t slept in days. “I don’t understand,” she said, tears pooling. “Two weeks ago, my daughter was this happy, curious little person. Now she clings to my leg like a koala on a eucalyptus tree […]