When parents are emotionally immature, having a healthy relationship with them can be difficult. No matter how the adult child attempts to be heard or understood, often the parent is unable to truly empathize or connect on a meaningful level.

Below are seven symptoms that can indicate that you are a child of an emotionally immature parent, sometimes also called eggshell parenting. With each symptom, practical advice is given on how to be true to yourself while also being respectful to your parents.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

During the school year, I often hear complaints from parents about their constant struggle with their children and teens to do their homework. The most frequent parental complaints are: children and teens procrastinate their school work and wait until the last minute for long-term projects. Or they do their work quickly just to get it over with and do a poor job. And occasionally, teens outright refuse to do their work or the opposite—they lean too heavily on their parents for assistance asking incessant questions.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The teenage years can be an awkward time. Hormones, brain growth, academic stress, and bullying—can all be a lot to handle for a teen. Add social media, peer pressure, and the media with perfect body images into the mix, and it can spell diminished confidence. Eighty-five percent of people suffer from low self-esteem, but teenagers are specifically prone to it.

Not only are the teenage years difficult for teens, but they are also hard on their parents. Seeing your child suffer from low confidence is often one of the hardest experiences as a parent. However, you aren’t powerless and can aid in [...]

If you're a parent who has a child or multiple children attending a Montessori school, you may be searching for understanding about how to bridge the gap between school and home. By making small adjustments at home, you can create remarkable results and dramatically enhance the continuity for children from home to school or school to home.

Goodbye, power struggles!

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Previously, we talked about three hidden parenting mistakes that increase people-pleasing behavior in children and how to avoid those mistakes. Now, let’s explore steps to encourage our children’s self-reliance and help them learn to take care of themselves without sacrificing their well-being through people-pleasing.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

While kids everywhere are milking as much fun from the last days of summer as they can, parents have the very real job of transitioning into the school routine. And most parents know that even if kids are excited, there can be some underlying anxiety that comes with returning to school. Fortunately, you can do simple things to help ease summer's end and start the year on a positive note.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

You might be wondering, can we really teach critical thinking skills to our children? Aren’t these abilities something that kids develop on their own? Or aren’t there lots of people who managed to think logically without any formal education in logic and critical thinking?

Regardless of whether children can learn through trial and error, significant information showcases the incredible benefits of learning, practicing, and integrating this skill formally. However, most people don’t realize the crucial need to regulate emotions to access the ability to think logically, so let’s explore further.

When my son was around nine, I moved in with my current husband. His two kids were with us two days a week and every other weekend. (Yes, we were now a blended family.) My son, who was living with his dad, was with us on the corresponding weekends. He loved his stepbrother dearly; they were instant and close friends from the start.

I still don't know what prompted it, but one day they got into an altercation, and my son stomped on his stepbrother’s neck. I was in shock and disbelief. My emotions raged, every cell on high alert. Once I knew my stepson was ok, I swept my son outside and around [...]

People-pleasing behavior is fraught with many emotional land mines: resentment, exhaustion, losing touch with our needs, seeking to be liked while giving up our desires and dreams, repressing emotions, and the impossible task of keeping everyone happy (to name just a few). Every parent I’ve worked with who identifies themselves as a people-pleaser asks, “What can I do to ensure that my child doesn’t become a people-pleaser like me?” I’ve never met any parent who aspires to raise compliant pleasers.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

In today's fast-paced world, an endless parade of technology and entertainment choices compete for family closeness. Do you ever find it challenging to break away from your smartphone or computer and make time for true connection in your relationships? Do you spend more time with your computer than your spouse? Does your teen seem more interested in his X-box than family time?

Technology's impact on families is substantial. Learn some tips to keep the Techno-Love Balance. 

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes