HELPING CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO COPE DOESN’T HAPPEN WHEN WE TRY TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS. And yet, parents do it all the time. I personally happen to be a frequent offender in this department. Even though I teach my clients about this parenting strategy all the time, it’s amazing how often I still catch myself falling into the same trap when it comes to my own kids. Maybe you can relate? As soon as I heard her voice, I could tell she was stressed. Like lots of freshmen, my daughter’s first semester in college came with a bit of a learning curve. In an effort to lighten the mood, I quipped, “What’s up, sweetie?” “Mom, why couldn’t our side of the family have some of the math genes? How come Aunt Jenni’s kids got all of them?” “Hhhhmmm… don’t know what to tell you baby girl,” I said. “I guess my liberal art genes must have beat the snot out of all the math genes. To be honest, there probably weren’t that many to begin with… I doubt it was a fair fight.” She was clearly...
Starting a New School Year – Tips for Coparenting After a Divorce. Anybody else feeling a little frazzled over the start of a new school? Yeah, me too. The start of a new school year always feels a little bittersweet. Part of me is super pumped about having a predictable routine again (and getting my life back ? ). Another part of me dreads spending those last dog days of summer racing around ?? getting everything prepped and ready before that first BIG day. Things like: Shopping for school supplies. Buying clothes and shoes that fit. Shifting schedules. Trying to get your kids to adjust to a new bedtime. Managing the dread, anxiety, or excitement your children feel over being in a new class or a new school. Any or all of it can feel incredibly overwhelming (not to mention the after-school activities that also kick off in the Fall.) Stressful right? However, for those of you parenting apart, there are often additional stressors lurking in the shadows. Maybe you spilt over the sum...