by smaclaughlin | Sep 13, 2016 | balance, books, communication, parenting style, perspective, resources
I’m sure you’re near your limit on how Americans are terrible at parenting. There are a gazillion books telling us how to do it better, including many from other cultures such as Asian “tiger mothers,” and how to bring up a French “bébé.” I personally value an outside...
by smaclaughlin | Mar 27, 2015 | advocacy for children, emotional intelligence, parenting style
Here’s the thing—I can’t possibly be an expert on your children, your family, or you. I could give you information about child development and brain function. I could (and will if you give me the chance) encourage you to be really gentle with yourself as a...
by smaclaughlin | Aug 29, 2014 | advocacy for children, developmental expectations, emotional intelligence, mindful parenting, modeling, parenting, parenting style, patience, perspective, self-care
When I was a new mom who shared my birth story with anyone who wanted to hear it, I quipped, “They don’t call it labor for nothing!” Even if you didn’t personally give birth to your children, the labor involved is still intense. The hard work,...
by Sarah MacLaughlin | Jun 6, 2014 | brain development, connection parenting, cooperation, developmental expectations, family, mindful parenting, parenting style
This. This sums up a lot of what I do. I help parents navigate this irony: We are on our worst behavior at home. Our kids act their worst, and we act our worst. We are more likely to hurt the ones we love. We tend to be more honest, more vulnerable, and more...
by Sarah MacLaughlin | Mar 30, 2014 | naps, parenting style, patience, sleep
Please enjoy this guest post from Jessica Begley. Jessica is holds a Master’s degree in public health, and is an Infant and Child Sleep Consultant and Certified Lactation Counselor. She is the founder of The Baby Sleep Geek and is passionate about helping wee...
by Sarah MacLaughlin | Mar 25, 2014 | brain development, connection parenting, developmental expectations, emotional intelligence, mindful parenting, my life, parenting style, perspective, power, problem-solving, resiliency, Uncategorized
In an ongoing effort to practice what I preach, I have been test-driving theories on my own child for the past several years. For those of you who, a) have not managed to keep your home 100% screen-free, and b) are living with children old enough to beg, (toddlers are...