Parenting Support
Are the kids turning your home and life upside down?
It seems like you ask your kids to do the same thing over and over. There’s no listening, no respect, and little compliance. Getting them to shower or pick up is a constant battle.
Feel like your home is in chaos?
Asking your kids to pick up after themselves is like talking to a brick wall. No one can find things on their own, so when homework, school supplies, or other things go missing, it’s up to you to find them. Chores are never done… or maybe you’ve already given up on assigning them since they’ll never get done unless you do them yourself.
Are the kids constantly fighting?
Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head on the daily. One kid is always picking on another. One kid is always crying and looking for comfort. Or they both start fighting and break things in your home as they tussle. Not even the dog is safe!
Is your partner on the same page?
You argue about discipline, expectations, and who is responsible for all this chaos. One of you may withdraw as the other is left with the burden of figuring it out. What was once a great marriage might now struggle to survive.
Find yourself wondering how other families have it all together?
You probably think to yourself, “How does so-and-so get their kids to listen, be well-mannered, and help around the house? There has got to be a method to turn this chaos into order!”
Maybe you feel like a failure at parenting…
Many people feel this way but, trust me, you’re not. Every situation and problem is unique, so there’s no “parenting manual” that can give you the remedy you need.
Maybe you feel as though you lack control. No one in the family seems to “see” or “know” what needs to be done and requires you to be the ringmaster of this circus. Only to realize you’re surrounded by clowns who are only interested in the “fun” times. This leaves you feeling like you’re the only one capable of taking care of endless household chores, meal prep, and not sending the kids to school with sticky syrup stuck in their hair.
This leaves you feeling alone, frustrated, and defeated. So, you cope by overcompensating, trying to get everything in order all at once. When no one hears you, you yell. The louder you yell, the more everyone tunes you out. It makes you wonder why you try at all. It makes you want to quit sometimes.
You lay in bed in the morning and wonder what would happen if you simply stayed there under the warm covers. Let your partner deal with it. Allow your kids to see what it would be like without you. Then you realize you can’t just quit because it would only create more work for you later, so you drag yourself out of bed and prepare yourself for another day.
And you’re clearly not a quitter because you are reading this page!
I can help you make the changes you need. Help is here!
While I don’t have a manual, I know some empirically proven tools and techniques such as Positive Parenting. Positive Parenting is defined as “…the continual relationship of a parent(s) and a child or children that includes caring, teaching, leading, communicating, and providing for the needs of a child consistently and unconditionally.” (Seay, et al., 2014, p. 207).
Parents can become coaches for kids teaching them to gain awareness of emotions, connecting with your child(ren), effective listening, naming emotions, and finding solutions that work. With this knowledge, your kids will fight with each other less, regulate emotions better, be more independent, problem-solve for themselves, and build self-esteem.
You will learn to set boundaries for yourself. With you as a model, your kids will learn to set boundaries resulting in everyone in your home being on the same page – kids need to know what’s expected of them daily. We can create age-appropriate chore charts, so your kids feel like a contributing part of the family. This will empower your kids as they will feel a sense of mastery over their environment and prepare them for the future.
You and your partner will work together as a team. Instead of winging it, you’ll have a plan and agree. Together, you will recognize and praise your kids for their desirable behaviors, motivating them to do more of those things. Use effective communication, provide clear rules and expectations, apply consistent consequences for behaviors, and act as a positive role model. You will learn about positive discipline that is never violent, aggressive, or critical but is kind and firm.
As a team, we can troubleshoot what’s going wrong and what you are already doing right (and you ARE already doing things that are right!). I can help you develop charts, reward, and token systems that actually work. Provide children with social stories, games, and activities that will speak to them. (I have written stories with the child as the protagonist that teach them specific lessons if that’s what they’re into.) Your problems are unique, and your solutions are, too. I can tailor things to fit your family’s beliefs and values.
Change can be hard work for a family, but once a plan is made and implemented with consistency, you will see results quickly!
Don’t waste another day overwhelmed by parenthood!
Parenting is hard work, and there isn’t a “magic formula” to solve all your problems. But in my experience working with so many families and circumstances, I’ve learned several tools and tricks that I know can work.
Together, we can figure this out. Call me today and set up a free 30-minute phone consultation to talk about what is going on and see if we’re a good fit: (262) 674-7009.