How often do we reassure our kids by saying "It's okay"? We try to make them feel better, but don't ignore children's emotions — here's why. "Let's go to the beach!" I suggested to my toddler on a recent day off. The weather had finally started warming up, and I wanted to sit on the sand and hear the waves slapping back and forth. I packed up our blanket and toys, slathered on some sunscreen and headed out. But once I set my toddler down on the sand on his bare feet, he cried, "Want to carry up!" He didn't want to stand on the sand. Irritated, I carried my 30-plus pound toddler and a … [Read more...]
Is It Okay to Tell My Son He’s Handsome?
Do you tell your son he's handsome? Here's why I don't tell my son he's handsome and stay away from complimenting his looks. I think my two-year-old looks stunning. I can look at his face and fall in love each time. Being his mom gives me automatic permission to be over-the-top biased. I can brag about him to everyone, except... I don't. I not only refrain from telling others how handsome he is, I don't tell him, either. I'll call him cutie-pie but usually say it when he does something cute (like when he makes jokes). Not when he looks cute. Even for the times when he takes my breath … [Read more...]
Why You Shouldn’t Force Kids to Say Sorry
Teaching kids to say sorry shouldn't include forced apologies—even if done with good intentions. Here's why forcing kids to say sorry isn't a good idea. My toddler wasn't in the best of moods. It was one of those, "Let me whine about the littlest things" days. He and his dad were rough housing when he hit his dad with a plastic toy. Right away the air changed from giddiness to tension, and my son was in no mood to be schooled. Still, I knelt down to my toddler's eye level and said, "We don't hit other people." Okay, so far so good. "Daddy got sad and hurt when you hit him," I … [Read more...]
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