Positive Discipline Parenting Blog

Your Kids Are Not Manipulating You

Parenting can be a challenging journey, often pushing us to our limits. It’s easy to fall into old patterns of control—like shouting or giving demands—especially when things get tough. But what if there was a way to foster connection and understanding, rather than frustration? The answer lies in curiosity. Let’s explore this idea of kids […]

Feelings, the First Foreign Language I Learned as a Parent

How will we practice? How are we going to teach them to name their feelings, express themselves clearly and assertively, and not internalize or explode their stress or negative emotions? When our children are scared, mad, or so sad, their irrational brain has taken over and is only able to yell, “Fight! Run away! Freeze!” We can guide our children into their “rational” brain by helping them feel safe and understood, while teaching them to name and express their feelings in positive ways.

Summer Car Kit for Nannies

My school-aged nanny kiddos and I spend tons of time outside during summer break.  We live in Seattle, so we’ve got to soak up the sun while we can! As I was recently restocking the back of my car for my tenth summer nannying (what?!), I figured I’d share some of my must-haves for anyone […]

Navigating the Marijuana Conversation with Teens: A Parent’s Guide

As a parent, one of the most challenging things to navigate is the issue of marijuana use among teens. We all know that adolescence is a time of exploration, testing boundaries, and trying new things. For many teens, marijuana is one of those things they experiment with. The question is: How do we, as parents, […]