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April 2014

April 12, 2014

The Valentine’s Day Disaster

It all started when I took Sally and Bobby to the dollar store after I...

April 08, 2014

“Sometimes You Have To Do What You Don’t Want To Do”

From time to time a reader will leave a horrified comment on one of my...

March 2014

March 30, 2014

On Communicating with Toddlers

Bobby recently took a three hour nap, and when he woke up, he was inconsolable....

March 18, 2014

Solving Sally’s Meltdowns (Together)

I don’t think we give children enough credit. If there’s something we want kids to...

March 12, 2014

Respecting Every BODY

Today I was pushing Bobby on the swing at the park. Each time his swing...

March 08, 2014

Just a Story

This evening I was sitting with my laptop, working, when I vaguely noticed a commotion...

March 03, 2014

“Don’t Lie to Me, Mommy!”

Not every child is the same. Some children might just laugh along at the idea...

February 2014

February 28, 2014

Emotion Control

The Pearls have begun applying this three-part personality system to children. A recent article by...

February 11, 2014

And Then She Called Me “Libby”

Over the holidays my preschool age daughter Sally started calling me Libby. For a couple...

January 2014

January 19, 2014

Little Bundles of Sin? I Think Not.

Sean and I took the kids out for pizza. I held Bobby on my lap,...

January 15, 2014

Raising Little Terrorists: Threats and Ultimatums Gone Wrong

"Mommy, stop your typing right now, or I'll color on the table with this marker."...

November 2013

November 28, 2013

And Bobby Wore Heels

I was getting ready to check out at the second-hand children's clothing shop when I...

November 14, 2013

No Spanking Necessary

I was nervous. Bobby is a year old now, and fast on his feet. He...

November 04, 2013

Why I Let My Children Eat (Almost) Whatever They Want

I let my two children eat whenever they want, and I never force them to...

November 02, 2013

Let’s Talk about Halloween Candy

When I was a child, we didn't do trick-or-treating, but we did go to our...

October 2013

October 29, 2013

“Would you like me to hold you while you cry?”

I knew the moment I saw her face that there was going to be a...

September 2013

September 19, 2013

A Sibling Tussle: Empathy and Problem Solving

So. I've given you all an intense couple of days. Today we take a break...

September 04, 2013

Bottling Up Your Emotions, Children Edition

I grew up in a family liked this. Complaining and bad attitudes were not allowed....

August 2013

August 15, 2013

Sally’s Scissors and How We Teach Lessons

I have been really surprised by the response to the post I put up this...

August 15, 2013

“You Took My Scissors Away and Made Me Sad”

Sally has a little box with scissors and glue, and she loves cutting and pasting....

August 07, 2013

“Mommy, You Have Two Options”

When something isn't an option at the moment---like going out for ice cream---I explain why....

June 2013

June 25, 2013

Gentle Discipline and Shades of Formula Parenting

There appears to be a growing trend in some Christian homeschooling circles away from corporal...

June 02, 2013

That Time I Put Myself in a Timeout

Sometime last year, shortly after Bobby was born, Sally had the worst temper tantrum she...

May 2013

May 29, 2013

Sally’s Emotions Are Hers, Not Mine

"I'm really angry with you, mom! I don't like you right now!" I don't even...

April 2013

April 30, 2013

Dear Pearls: Crying Is How Babies Communicate

I spent an hour this evening at the park with Sally and Bobby. I put...

March 2013

March 20, 2013

When “I’m Sorry” Means “Please Don’t Hit Me”

Yesterday I finally brought a Christmas mug I was given a couple months ago home...

February 2013

February 28, 2013

Why Sally Doesn’t Have a Bedtime

Would you believe that Sally doesn't have a bedtime? Well, she doesn't. She used to....

February 25, 2013

The Problem with Punishing Children

"What bothers me so much about punishing children is that it is a conscious effort...

January 2013

January 08, 2013

Critical Thinking and Compromise: Sally Strikes a Deal

Sally may only be in preschool, but we are already working to teach her critical...

November 2012

November 20, 2012

Listening Can Be Hard: On Children and Disconnects

It was breakfast, and Sally had shredded her biscuit and was asking for another. I...