And guess who the culprits were?

Teenagers.

"Are you an only child?"

That question always gives me pause. Yes, but also, no. I am not alone in being the child of a blended family. Nor am I the only one who’s a bit confused by the whole situation—parents included.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Sibling rivalry is practically guaranteed as soon as a family has more than one child. But that doesn't make it any easier to handle or any less frustrating for parents! Most parents have a very different ideal home life in mind.

When brothers and sisters fight and argue, the entire family dynamic is rocked. Arguments at home can easily spill into each family member’s work or social life. Strife can make a happy, healthy family life seem like an unattainable dream. In extreme circumstances, it can even lead to enduring psychological or physical pains. This dynamic often leaves parents [...]

Psychology Today has this to say about stress. "Stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's response to it... Lifesaving as the stress response was meant to solve short-term, life-threatening problems, not extended difficulties ... Prolonged or repeated arousal of the stress response, a characteristic of modern life, can have harmful physical and psychological effects."

However, it is the perception of a threat by you and your child that determines whether or not a cascade of survival chemicals is triggered and dumped into [...]

Temperament: ten unique traits. Do you know your child's temperament?

Temperament is a lot like wrapping paper. The traits come in many colors and designs, in a multitude of hues and intensities. They are as different as the multitude of autumn leaves with varying tones and colors. Knowing our child’s unique temperament and the interaction of traits, parents are armed with a critical tool to parent more consciously and increase family ease and fun. The more skills in your tool belt, the more equipped you are for the curve balls that life throws your way! Here you'll learn key actions to [...]

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

"Whether or not parents should try to be friends with their children—especially in the early developmental and teen years—is a hot-button issue in a lot of parenting circles. On one side of the debate are the hard-line parenting advocates, who believe befriending your child is detrimental to their development. But is it?Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Raising children is not for the weary. Parenting is a 24-7 job that relentlessly demands our best self and every ounce of energy and love we have to give. What many parents don't realize is that parenting can be much easier and a whole lot more fun!

Learning how to redirect children's misbehavior is a life-safer! And adding a few parenting skills to your tool belt infuses a parent with confidence that helps to destress our hectic parenting lives.Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

When my kids were still in the baby zone, I left them and my husband for four glorious days in New York City with a couple of close girlfriends. I was worried that I would miss the family, but instead, I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of freedom. Shortly after returning, I met with Jennifer of Heartmanity and cried my heart out, mourning the fact that that sense of freedom had come and gone so quickly. It felt like a whole year to wait until I could do something like that again. But I discovered something else instead.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

As a parent, do you ever wonder if you're failing your child? Or do you feel discouraged in your parenting role? Are your kids driving you crazy? Have you found yourself doing exactly what you said you'd NEVER do—like yelling at your kids, just like your mom did? Then, you might ask, "Am I a bad mom?"Parenting is not for the weary at heart as the saying goes. Being a parent requires patience, fortitude, skill, and a love that keeps on giving! It's a fabulous opportunity to grow up, too!

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes