by smaclaughlin | Aug 7, 2017 | anger, communication, discipline, limits, mindfulness, my life, self-regulation
I’m thinking about rebranding my entire website and business to be entitled Kind AF. This makes sense as you may have seen we’ve quite embraced swearing at our house. I’m also itching for a vanity plate (ORDERED!) and a wrist tattoo (that will need to wait). And why...
by smaclaughlin | Apr 30, 2016 | anger, brain development, brain science, communication, discipline, emotional intelligence, handling meltdowns, limits, modeling
My near eight-year-old has been raised in an emotionally supportive, non-punitive home. He has never been spanked, put in time-out, or given arbitrary consequences. His dad and I infrequently raise our voices in anger, and have always apologized when we do. High value...
by smaclaughlin | Jan 23, 2016 | connection parenting, emotional intelligence, family, limits, mindful parenting, modeling, self-care, Uncategorized
When I ask parents about taking good care of themselves, the answer I hear most frequently, especially from moms, is, “Yeah, I definitely don’t get enough ‘me-time.'” Well, no. No one does. I think there’s a better lens through which to...
by Sarah MacLaughlin | Jul 31, 2012 | communication, connection parenting, cooperation, discipline, emotional intelligence, limits, perspective, problem-solving
Setting limits is tough. I’ve found it to be a muscle I had to grow and exercise over time. I was way better at it when I was interacting with someone else’s child. Once my own boy became mobile, I ran smack into the ever-triggering world of a driven-to-explore...
by Sarah MacLaughlin | Apr 14, 2011 | anger, emotional intelligence, limits, mindful parenting, perspective, power
This title is the chorus line from a catchy 1970 Sesame Street song. It is sung to the tune of the hit, Get a Job, and performed by a troupe of hiply dressed Muppets. Boy, did they hit the nail on the head with this skit! Children, in their virtually powerless...
by Sarah MacLaughlin | Feb 23, 2011 | communication, connection parenting, emotional intelligence, limits, mindful parenting, parenting style, power
You hear a lot about parenting style these days. Just scan the shelves of your local bookstore to see how many different modes are out there. You can practice Attachment, Unconditional, Positive, and Conscious parenting, or you could aim to be an Idle, Playful, or...