In the last article, we talked about the dangers of comparison because it can lead to a mindset of constant judgment. We discussed that when kids see themselves as “better than” others, it creates arrogance and entitlement and can lead to conceitedness, bullying, and discrimination. We also discussed that when kids see themselves as “less than”...

Have you ever watched young children at play? They are completely uninhibited. They laugh, dance, sing, and cry without regard to what other people think. Two babies enjoy each other without noticing the differences between them – they are pure love, light, and energy! However, as children get older, they start to notice that not all children are...

In the last article, we talked about three warning signs that your child might be developing a fear of failure. This was just the tip of the iceberg in discussing this topic. The word “failure” has very negative connotations in American culture - some people don’t even like to use the word. I’ve decided to use the term because it is still...

Here are three warning signs to look for... When a child develops a fear of failure, they will whittle down their hopes and dreams to avoid stepping outside of their comfort zone. As parents, it is critical that we see the warning signs so we can help our kids be all they can be. Here are three signs to look for: 1.  Look for unusual signs of...

“Do you cry because roses have thorns or celebrate because thorns have roses?” I came across this quote in a book I read and wanted to share it with you. Although there have been similar quotes, I love the simplicity of this one. It is a great reminder that how we choose to look at anything in our life impacts how we experience our lives. This is...

In the last article we asked the question, "Does your child have yo-yo self-esteem?" Recall that Yo-yo self-esteem occurs when children’s self esteem rises and falls with the ups and downs of their lives (i.e. how they did in school, played in their soccer game, etc.). We talked about how important it is for children to base their self-esteem on...

Does your child’s self-esteem rise and fall with the grades she makes?   Does your child’s self-esteem rise and fall depending on who played with him at school that day? Does your child’s self-esteem crumble if he makes a mistake? If so, then your child is suffering from yo-yo self-esteem -- self-esteem that rises and falls with the ups and...

I was asked this question several years ago and it was a very powerful question for me.  Like you, I was already an engaged and connected parent; however, taking a few minutes to actually write down my vision for my kids enabled me to see areas where I was spending a lot of time and areas where I wanted to focus more. Although we can’t guarantee...