The holiday season is fast upon us, and for busy families, that often means an added layer of stress - or perhaps it feels more like an avalanche of pressure.  From Halloween costumes to sort out, Thanksgiving meals to start planning, and the looming task of holiday shopping, it’s no wonder t...

Today, we’re talking about intentional parenting.  When I list off the 5 C’s in my parenting framework (see The 5 C’s to Amazing Parenting), I always list Check Yourself last, but really, this is the big-hitter, the foundation upon which the rest stand.  The highlight of the Check Yourself ca...

Bedtime should be a calming period filled with snuggles and well wishes for another wonderful day to come tomorrow.  However, bedtime can sometimes feel more like a battleground when it comes to getting your kids to settle down and go to sleep.  Children can be experts at finding creative way...

Years ago, I heard a friend say to her child, who was on the verge of starting an altercation with their sibling, “Grace and courtesy.”  When I asked for the background story on this prompt, she explained that it is integral to the Montessori school’s philosophy of teaching polite social norms.  ...