We have a large mirror in the bathroom we refer to as the kids' bathroom. We only call it such because this is the one bathroom with a bathtub and because we have a stool in there to make it easier for them to wash hands. In truth, most of our guests use this bathroom and our... Continue Reading →
pick your battles…
The phrase "pick your battles" is often bandied about by parents, especially by those who practice some form of gentle parenting. It refers to the fact that you should be willing to participate in give and take, saving absolutes for situations when you really aren't willing to budge and being more flexible the rest of... Continue Reading →
positive discipline…
In her book Positive Discipline, Jane Nelsen approaches the topics of gentle and non-punitive parenting from an Adlerian point of view. She introduces the four R's of punishment - resentment, revenge, rebellion, and retreat - and focuses her version of positive discipline as one which works toward mutually acceptable goals and solutions. The book has a lot... Continue Reading →
ultimate temper tantrums…
Yelling, hitting, threatening.....When our children do these things, parents refer to it as temper tantrums. When parents do these things, those same people refer to it as discipline. The fact of the matter is, they are both the same thing - a call for help. When a person feels overwhelmed or frustrated, they feel out of... Continue Reading →
filling up with love…
Sometimes, when I am out of sorts with one of my children and we aren't connecting very well, I gather the child up in my arms and onto my lap. I might say in a funny voice, "I think you need filled up with love." Sometimes they argue a bit. Othertimes they just feel relief.... Continue Reading →
stagnant versus dynamic parenting…
I like to read books about topics which are pertinent to me. This includes parenting books - specifically non-coercive or consensual living books. I feel that I am a better parent when I am actively seeking growth - as a parent and as a person. When I read the books, I'm not looking for someone... Continue Reading →
snot sucker…
I am not a fan of nasal aspirators. My children have always hated them, but something has to be done when your little nursling is all stuffed up. We've always tried to be as gentle as possible, use saline solution (I recommend Little Noses due to the small kid size tip), and talk through the process.... Continue Reading →
the five love languages of children…
The Five Love Languages of Children, by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, is not in and of itself a book about consensual living. It does skirt the issue of consensual living, though, and has merit for some parents. The book as a whole would be stronger if the authors had chosen to make the book... Continue Reading →
living peacefully with children 