Parenting Archives | Sleeping Should Be Easy

11 Ways to Practice Authoritative Parenting

Published Jul 15, 2020 Updated Jul 15, 2020

Heard of authoritative parenting but not sure how to implement it? Learn how to be a better mom with authoritative parenting. You'd think being a parent—such an important and difficult role—would come with a certificate reassuring us we know what we're doing. Instead, we base our decisions on how we grew up, what we've read or heard, or from our circle of friends and families. No wonder we feel lost at times, or second guess our decisions. But there is an effective parenting style that many experts say is the best way to go. One that balances rules and demands with nurture and love. … [Read more...]

4 Things to Remember Before You Get Mad at Your Kids

Parenthood

Published Jul 12, 2020 Updated Jul 12, 2020

Do you find yourself disciplining your kids non-stop? Here are 4 things to remember before you get mad at your kids that will keep you calm. In one afternoon, I managed to discipline my son four times before realizing my grave mistake. In one scenario, he moved a toy truck that his brother had been leaning on, and in another, spilled a cup of milk all over the dining table. Later, he pushed a swing without realizing that his brother was a mere few inches away from getting hit. And finally, he moved the handle to a bassinet back and forth without realizing that doing so would break … [Read more...]

7 Effective Ways to Handle Parent Burnout

Parenthood

Published Jul 11, 2020 Updated Jul 11, 2020

Parenthood can feel like overwhelming and exhausting. Learn how to handle parent burnout and enjoy spending time with your children once again. Seriously, some days I'm too tired to even be tired. In the evenings, I survive yet another day of giving my attention to three little people who want it all at the same time. I wash dish after dish, cook dinner, clean anything that looks disgusting, and pick up a never-ending supply of toys on the floor. I even end the day sweating, as if I had come from an exercise session, when all I did was bathe, dress and read to the kids. One night, … [Read more...]

How to Stop Hovering Over Your Child

Parenthood

Published Jul 10, 2020 Updated Jul 10, 2020

Are you a helicopter mom doing too much for your children? Learn how to stop hovering over your child and focus on these benefits instead. Do you ever feel like you can't take your eyes off your child? Maybe it's because she's causing mischief, or you worry she'll hurt herself without you nearby. You might even assume good parenting means being hands-on. And so you micromanage everything. You resolve social conflict, inspect her chores (even redoing them if she didn't do it well), direct her play and take over her crafts. It's easy to think you have no other alternatives. Trust … [Read more...]

7 Techniques to Discipline Children

Behavior

Published Jul 08, 2020 Updated Jul 09, 2020

Discipline is nothing more than teaching our kids how to behave and manage their emotions. Read these 7 effective ways to discipline children. When you hear "discipline," you might think of unruly kids and their parents trying to rein them in. You picture time outs, counting to three, punishment, grounding or even spanking. And discipline feels like simply getting kids to obey, behave well, and listen to what parents say. It turns out, discipline is less about all that, and more about... teaching. We're teaching and helping kids through their choices, circumstances, and behavior. We … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding Secrets Every Mom Should Know

Breastfeeding

Published Jul 07, 2020 Updated Jul 07, 2020

Want to make breastfeeding successful? Whether you're first time mom or a veteran, here are breastfeeding secrets that just might surprise you. I never would've thought breastfeeding would be hard—not once. But there I was, pulled between wanting to breastfeed and ready to call it quits. My nipples were cracked and blistered, I felt immobilized from the multiple feedings, and I could never seem to satisfy his hungry cries. I learned only later that many of us face these challenges. They're enough to make us question our ability to provide for your babies, or even whether we're doing … [Read more...]

What to Do when You Tell Your Kids “No” Too Often

Behavior

Published Jul 05, 2020 Updated Jul 05, 2020

Do you feel like the "mean parent" for telling your kids not to do this or that? Here's what to do when you tell your child no too often. "I tell him 'no' so much, sometimes even before he's done anything," a friend vented. "He'll have food in his hand, and I just know he's about to throw it on the ground," she reasoned. We've all found ourselves in a similar situation, telling our kids "no," sometimes even before they've misbehaved. Other times, we convince ourselves that they deliberately disobey all the time, forcing us to tell them "no"all day long. The word itself is less … [Read more...]

“What Would You Do?”: Questions You Need to Ask to Keep Your Child Safe

Communication

Published Jul 01, 2020 Updated Jul 01, 2020

Would your child know what to do in certain situation to keep her safe? Learn 5 important child safety questions you need to ask to keep your kids safe. "Did someone open the door?" I asked my son. I was getting something in my bedroom while he stayed in the kitchen. Except I had heard what I thought was the door opening and closing. I usually kept it locked, but maybe I had forgotten. "No," he replied. Still, I imagined all sorts of random people opening the door with me not knowing. And it made me ask him... "What would you do if someone you sort of knew, like... the delivery … [Read more...]

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