Head & Heart Parents

Three year old Wes used to play his favorite game at bedtime. It was called, “See how many ways I can be naughty.” He was the only one enjoying the game. His single, working dad certainly did not. Wes was very creative in how he played the game: he ran away when it was time [...]

Imagine this: you’re sitting in a restaurant and when the waitress asks for your friend’s order, your friend goes through the whole menu of what she DOESN’T want… “I don’t want the burrito and I don’t want the tacos and I don’t want the chimichanga.” How likely is she to end up getting what she [...]

Kendra and Mom were walking through the mall when Kendra spied the most “spectacular” pair of dark glasses. “Oh, Mom, they are perfect. They’re just what I need to complete my collection of eyeware. I’ve got to have them, but I don’t have the money. Will you loan me some? Pleeese! I’ll pay you back.” [...]

If your kids are old enough to talk, you’ve probably heard things like: “Jackie’s parents let her watch anything on TV she wants to.” “Mandy gets to have her computer in her room. Like…this is the 21st century.” Some of us have even heard horrifying things like: “Robert’s parents buy him beer for his parties. [...]

Rex had been terrorizing the other 5th graders at school. The other kids were beginning to refuse to play anywhere near him during recess. Rex’s teacher was often convinced that he was behind most problems that happened when her back was turned. She explained it to his mother one day with, “I never see him [...]

It might be comforting to know that you don’t have to be able to provide a good reason for saying no to your kids. Our kids are not our supervisors. If something doesn’t feel right to you, that’s a good enough reason to say no. The best parents have the courage to say no when [...]