Jennifer A. Williams / Parent Coach

Jennifer A. Williams / Parent Coach

Jennifer is the Heartmanity Founder and a parent coach and behavioral consultant with two decades of experience. She is a Parent Instructor and Instructor Trainer for the International Network of Children and Families and author of several parenting courses, including How to Bully-Proof Your Child and Hacking the Teen Brain. Jennifer is happily married and a mother to 3 fantastic grown children.

Recent Posts:

Are You Building a United Front for Kids in Your Blended Family?

March 14, 2021

Blended families naturally face countless combinations of complexities. The intertwining worlds of parents, stepparents, children, and stepsiblings, as well as their potentially clashing values, emotions, and schedules, can be a tough world for families to navigate. Children in these families constantly have to adjust as they move back and forth between households, navigating the different personalities and parenting styles of their biological parents and stepparents.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

Stop! These 5 Things Will Destroy Responsibility in Children

December 01, 2020

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." ~Abraham Lincoln

All parents want to raise responsible, self-reliant children—but getting there doesn't happen overnight. It takes years of nurturing to prepare our kids for a life of independence. Not only do we need to actively teach our children responsibility, but we also need to model the behaviors we want to see. And it's also important to avoid making critical parenting mistakes that could undermine our goal of raising independent kids.

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting, Parenting Favorites

Your Expectations Are a Big Problem in Blended Families

November 19, 2020

William Shakespeare said, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.” When Shakespeare coined this phrase over four centuries ago,blended families and step-parenting went mainly unnoticed by social scientists. However, the quote is relevant in isolating a profound problem created by today’s blended families’ complex and unpredictable dynamics.

The nature of these relationships creates common problems and challenges that often cannot be anticipated. Yet, as families are combined, individuals may not realize the obscure expectations that often exist within them: expectations around roles, how [...]

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

3 Critical Skills that Every Teenager Needs

November 03, 2020

No matter how long ago it was, you probably remember what it was like to be a teenager: feeling alienated from the world as if no one could understand you. A common and familiar theme.

When you’re a teen, the inner critic, negative self-talk, and anxiety can spiral out of control unless you know the right coping skills, how to regulate emotions, and develop intrinsic motivation.

Estimated reading time: 4.5 minutes

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

The Most Overlooked Secret to Peaceful Parenting: Empathy

October 06, 2020

Every parent of a toddler is familiar with the incessant "whys" that litter each day. At first, they are endearing and cute. Parents take great delight in hearing that sweet voice and seeing the expressive, curious face of their child. However, after the first hundred times or so, or on a particularly stressful or hectic occasion, the question often begins to irritate parents. Fortunately, this stage passes somewhat quickly, as the child's language development expands to include more and more words. And then, before you know it—the teenage years greet you!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

How to Deal with a Disrespectful Grown Child

September 29, 2020

Being a parent is difficult and complicated. On top of parenting being a full-time job, it costs an estimated quarter of a million dollars to raise each child to the age of eighteen. We dedicate ourselves to keeping our children safe and healthy for nearly two decades—a huge feat in this crazy world. Even after they’ve grown up, we have heartstrings connected to them 24/7, no matter where they live or what they’re doing.

It can really hurt when we unexpectedly find our adult child disrespecting us or our relationships with our children strained. Do you think to yourself, "Why is my grown son [...]

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting, Most Popular

WombPrints: the Imprints Parents Make during Pregnancy

August 11, 2020

Every couple is unique. Each couple has a different response to the news of being pregnant and having a baby. Yet, nothing is more exciting—and terrifying—than becoming pregnant and knowing that you're going to be responsible for another human being.

It's common to dive into all of the information online and buy a few books to devour. And it's natural to fill your thoughts with possible baby names, pursue midwives, and make that first check-up appointment. It's common to immediately seek to understand the stages of the embryo and fetus development and plan for the major event of childbirth. [...]

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

Teenage Rebellion Is a Cry for Connection and Love

May 21, 2020

One of the most challenging times in life is when your child hits the teenage years. Parenting teens is as much a rite of passage for you as it is for your teen. It’s when your sweet, agreeable child turns grumpy and often rebellious, pushing you away seemingly overnight.

I’ll never forget my own experience as a first-time parent of a teenager. During one incredibly difficult time, my 14-year-old son and I had just had an argument, and he stormed off abruptly. My daughter, who was five years younger, had witnessed the whole blow-up. As she saw the tears welling in my eyes, she looked up at me [...]

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting, Parenting Favorites

Parenting Tips for Summertime Fun

May 15, 2020

Spring is in full swing and it's only a few weeks before school lets out. And what a year it's been! The pandemic with its alternating virtual and in-person schedules and quarantines has exhausted teachers, stressed parents with unpredictable changes, and crashed the social life of our teenagers. Summer will be a welcome change!

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

Positive Parenting: 3 Parenting Strategies for Greater Patience

May 12, 2020

As parents, we all know how difficult it can be to keep our patience with our vivacious children, especially in their innocent moments of exploring their world at full throttle. Parenting with patience can be challenging when our child is misbehaving, especially when we don't know how to redirect children's behavior without squelching their spirits.

What parenting strategies lead to positive discipline and greater patience? How do we prevent losing it with our children? And are you a bad mom when you are impatient?

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Posted in Perfectly Imperfect Parenting

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