Good to Great Parenting

What's a top family trip?

How long does it take for the family to leave the house?

Pizza or stir fry - which would your kids choose?

My secret for smoother bedtime routines is...
(fill in the blank)

Which chore would your kids love you to do for them?

One tiny step could be all you need to help your kids get unstuck today...

You have a never ending list of things that have to get done.

Coming up with the thing to do that makes things stick with your kids, at the time when it matters, can be hard to do.

You don't have to figure it all out at once, here are THREE things that can make a big shift at home -

1. The power of the pause -

When you have a child who is struggling and doesn't want to get into the car take a moment. Breathe and say Hmmm...

Your tiny delay can be a powerful pause. It helps your kids stay with you when you want them to do what might seem simple but can actually be hard for them.

2. When and then -

Cooperation is something that we learn over time. Fewer words works. Be clear about what you want to happen.

"When your shoes are on then we can go out."

3. Connect to direct -

Leave a cool drink on your teens desk or spend 5 minutes just being with your younger children (even consider hopping in bed before they get up to help on a tough morning).

Your kids are brilliant at giving you an opportunity you to tune into them, to really be present in the moment and notice what's going on.

One tiny step can make a huge difference to how you see things and to how the rest of the day goes.

What's ONE tiny step you could take today ?

My kids are awesome at ...
(fill in the blank)

What's one thing you wish you could help your kids avoid?

Paying attention is a profound form of love.

For parents it can mean looking at a child's intention.

On the one hand we could look that their attempt to clean up a mess. Many times these attempts make even more mess, and if we look deeper we could see the intention behind the act. Maybe our kids are trying to grab what's closest to wipe up a spill. They want to fix it.

Looking for a child's intention matters.

It helps to reduce resentment.

When we let go of an unrealistic expectation that kids will clean up as well as adults, we allow the natural problem solving that kids already have to come through.

When we pay attention to what's going on underneath we can see that mistakes are not a problem, they are how kids learn.

What's a midweek meal that wins at your place?