Inside Your Wife’s Head: Defragging the Hard Drive

Don Harrold
www.practicaldad.com
She’s not as playful as before the kids’ arrival.  Perhaps she’s more curt and distracted and it seems harder to engage in the same conversations that you had when it was just the two of you.  You look at her and wonder, what’s going on inside her head?  If you want to understand, think [...]

How To Raise A Loving Not Manipulative Child

We all wish to raise ethical, loving children. Some of our kids are active, others are shy, still others learn to manipulate rather than being straight-forward. Kids who learn to manipulate in youth carry those patterns into adulthood. So now is the time to teach your child healthy relationship skills. Here are some tips to [...]

Getting Your Kids to WriteThank You Notes

The holidays can be a wonderful time to enjoy our families and share so much love and joy with our children. However, all the fun and excitement can either be something that will be meaningful for the rest of our kids’ lives or it can be quickly lost in the rush of the gifts and [...]

Of Course I’m Listening! What Did You Say?

Good ol’ Mr. Rogers knew what he was singing about when he was putting on his sneakers: “I mean I might just make mistakes if I should have to hurry up and so I like to take my time.” When he was home, I’m sure his kids got at least the same level of attention [...]

Stuff You Don’t Need to Worry About

Thankfully, our kids survived their teen years. So did David and I, though I know I aged more than he did. But I can still do a headstand and he can’t, so there.
Nail me for sexism, but I’m convinced we moms feel our kids’ challenges more than dads. Everything from circumcision, to vaccinations, to teething, [...]

Dumbed Down Parenting

Lots of parents tell me they rely on screen activities such as GameBoys, DVD players, and computers to entertain their kids when they are traveling, waiting for appointments, or sitting in restaurants.  “It’s so easy,” they tell me, “it really keeps them quiet.” Yes, the screens do engage kids, for sure.  But are there ways [...]

Taking the Long View

Recently our extended family, which included several of my grand children, took a trip together.  I delighted in spending time with all the children, and got to know five-year-old Antonio, one of the cousins, much better over the two weeks we were together.
One evening when we were getting ready for a big family party, Antonio’s [...]

The Do’s and Don’t of Teaching Kids Self Control

Experts tell us that self control is one of the most important virtues kids need to do well in life. Here are some great tips from author Dyan Eybergen on the Do’s and Don’ts of this crucial life skill.
Self-control is a skill that enables a person to discern what is right from wrong. It is [...]

Keeping Your Kids Safe from Sexting

Erik Fisher, PhD. AKA Dr. E…
Author of The Art of Empowered Parenting
My kid may be doing what? Yes, Mom and Dad, the phenomenon of “Sexting” is taking off (no pun intended). If you don’t know what “Sexting” is, it involves people, mostly teens, taking nude pictures of themselves and sending them using their cell phones [...]

Five Secrets to Setting and Achieving Your Goals

We so often start the New Year full of enthusiasm and certainty that this will be the year we will finally succeed.

Five Critical Beliefs to Instill in our Kids

There has been a strong movement in recent years on raising caring kids. Traits like self control, empathy and respect are promoted as strong factors to help prevent violence and bad behavior. There is no question that nurturing these and other virtues will go a long way to giving kids a strong foundation and raise [...]

What’s Your Parenting Style?

Knowing your parenting style is an important aspect of being an effective parent. Regardless of what the experts teach us, we each have our own individual style and beliefs that we will bring to the dynamic. Renowned expert and author Dr. Maryann Rosenthal provides this overview of how our parenting styles affect our kids.
Your Parenting [...]

Can I Save My Relationship?

The health of the relationship of the parents, together or apart, is a crucial factor in helping our kids grow up to be confident and secure in themselves and the world around them.

Five Strategies for Coping with Teen Behavior

As the mom of two wonderful daughters I have to say I am overjoyed at the lovely, caring people they are becoming. As they now enter the teen years I also have to stand back and come to grips with what every parent at this stage has to come to grips with…they are growing up.
Of [...]

Parents Don’t Agree on Discipline

One of the most common concerns among parents is the ongoing struggle between two parents on how to discipline their kids. One parent is strict and the other is too lenient or perhaps one parent allows behavior that the other parent finds completely uuacceptable. This can cause tension and downright anger and resentment between parents [...]