No, it had nothing (or only a little) to do with the outcome of the elections in the US. The tears were neither of joy nor sorrow. Per se. The tears were of anger, frustration, helplessness, fear, uncertainty, and solidarity. This is a long post.
My 2-year-old asked me to “Calm down”
The same energy that works for me professionally, does not quite do it for me, personally. I am not much of a laid back person. I’d like to think I am but I am really not. I just don’t work that way. I get annoyed easily. I lose my patience quicker than you can say …
Untitled: Gathering the Pieces of Failure
My most recent pledge to not yell at my son was an epic failure on day 2. Everything was going smoothly until it was time to strap the kids in that monstrosity of a double stroller to take them for a walk. TJ wanted to get out but I really needed that walk because I …
No More Yelling – Another Honest Attempt
It’s quiet. Rather peaceful, actually. It is about 11:15 a.m. and I am at my laptop writing this while my baby is asleep upstairs. TJ is at school. I feel accomplished and it is not even noon yet. I woke up at 5:30 today with Baby E acting as my alarm clock. She is slowly learning …
My 8 New Strategies for Disciplining
You know the worst thing about disciplining? It’s not the yelling. It’s not the tears. It’s not even the behavior that elicited disciplining in the first place. Although all of those things are really awful, it is the guilt infused yelling-screaming hangover that hovers around a parent that, in my opinion, is the worst thing …
I became THAT mom today
A short time ago, in recent history, I was one of those moms who was quietly judging other moms/caregivers sitting by the sidelines, almost literally, of the park on 15th and Wabash in downtown Chicago.
Navigating the delicate waters of rewards and punishment
It began in the most mundanely boring and predictable way possible. As parents, we started punishing bad behavior with time outs and rewarding good behavior with praises, and even more hugs and kisses than we did usually. Then somehow, I am not sure how or when, we started giving incentives (material objects as presents) randomly …
