The Straight Talk on Parenting

1. Develop a positive relationship blueprint with your children

Our children are watching and learning, and if they come to believe that healthy relationships include accepting yourself and others, and finding healthy ways to work together to solve problems and overcome challenges, you will be giving them a gift that will last a lifetime.

Build a foundation of trust. The relationship you establish with your child becomes the blueprint for every other relationship they will have. Focus on cultivating qualities like mutual respect, trust, and open communication. Avoid negative labels and instead highlight your child's positive attributes. This approach will not only strengthen your bond but also give your child a healthy model for future relationships.

Model healthy interactions. Children learn by observing, so it's crucial to demonstrate the behavior you want to see. Practice active listening, express empathy, and show appreciation for your child's efforts and unique qualities. By doing so, you're teaching them valuable social skills and emotional intelligence that will serve them well throughout their lives.

2. Foster independence and self-reliance in your kids

It is imperative that parents come to terms with, and embrace, the inevitable quest for independence and self-reliance that children are destined to take.

Encourage autonomy. From an early age, provide opportunities for your children to make choices and take on age-appropriate responsibilities. This could include:

• Choosing their own clothes
• Making their own breakfast
• Organizing their backpack
• Setting their own alarm clock

Allow for natural consequences. Resist the urge to rescue your children from every mistake or challenge. By allowing them to experience the outcomes of their decisions, you're helping them develop problem-solving skills and resilience.

3. Understand and address the four mistaken goals of behavior

Every child behaves in a way that serves his immediate purpose. The purpose is one of the following: I want your attention. I want more power. I feel hurt and want to hurt you back. I don't think I have what it takes to deal with this situation so I will avoid it.

Identify the underlying goal. When faced with challenging behavior, look beyond the surface and try to understand what your child is really communicating. The four mistaken goals are:

1. Attention-seeking
2. Power struggle
3. Revenge
4. Avoidance

Respond appropriately. Once you've identified the goal, you can address the root cause rather than just reacting to the behavior. For example:

• For attention-seeking: Provide positive attention during calm times
• For power struggles: Offer choices within limits
• For revenge: Address hurt feelings and build trust
• For avoidance: Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps

4. Balance living with a toddler while raising a future adult

Children don't grow out of, they grow into whatever it is they are doing at the moment or what they are most often exposed to.

Think long-term. While addressing immediate challenges, keep in mind the adult you're trying to raise. Consider how your actions and reactions are shaping your child's future self. Focus on developing character traits that will serve them well in adulthood, such as resilience, empathy, and self-discipline.

Create teachable moments. Use everyday situations to impart valuable life lessons. For example:

• When your toddler spills something, teach them how to clean up
• When they have a conflict with a sibling, guide them through problem-solving steps
• When they accomplish a task, acknowledge their effort and persistence

5. Create intentional routines tailored to your family's needs

Taking the time to identify, set up, and follow through with routines, structures, limits, and boundaries is not as overwhelming as it sounds. These things work together, just like the elements of my method, to support your active and unique family.

Assess your family's needs. Consider each family member's personality, preferences, and schedules when designing routines. This might include:

• Morning routines
• Homework time
• Bedtime rituals
• Meal preparation and cleanup

Be flexible and adaptable. While consistency is important, be willing to adjust routines as your children grow and family circumstances change. Regularly reassess and modify your routines to ensure they continue to serve your family's needs.

6. Implement privileges and responsibilities to encourage growth

Remember: Age five years and younger: give children seven days to prove they are responsible. Age five to nine years: give children seven to ten days. Age nine years and older: give children thirty days.

Create a balanced system. Link privileges to responsibilities in a way that's appropriate for your child's age and maturity level. For example:

• Privilege: Later bedtime
• Responsibility: Waking up on time and maintaining energy throughout the day

Be consistent. Once you've established the system, follow through consistently. This teaches your children that their actions have consequences and helps them develop a sense of accountability.

7. Cultivate essential character traits for lifelong success

No matter what happens in life, I know my kids are going to need a reserve of resilience if they are going to be able to power through and come out on the other side.

Identify key traits. Focus on developing character traits that will serve your children well throughout their lives, such as:

• Resilience
• Empathy
• Self-discipline
• Integrity
• Curiosity

Create opportunities for growth. Provide experiences that allow your children to practice and strengthen these traits. For example:

• Encourage them to try new things to build resilience
• Involve them in community service to develop empathy
• Set achievable goals to foster self-discipline

8. Use effective communication strategies to resolve conflicts

Say what you mean, mean what you say … then do it.

Practice active listening. When conflicts arise, give your full attention to your child and try to understand their perspective. Reflect back what you hear to ensure you've understood correctly.

Use "I" statements. Express your own feelings and needs without blaming or accusing. For example, "I feel frustrated when the living room is messy" instead of "You always leave your toys everywhere."

Offer choices. When possible, give your child options within acceptable limits. This helps them feel empowered and more likely to cooperate. For instance, "Would you like to clean up your toys now or after dinner?"

9. Address common parenting challenges with a methodical approach

This method is both stable and fluid, and it embraces the reality that life is dynamic and that growth and change are inevitable and desirable.

Identify the issue. Clearly define the problem you're facing, whether it's bedtime battles, picky eating, or sibling rivalry.

Apply the method. Use the elements of the parenting method to address the challenge:

1. Evaluate the relationship blueprint
2. Foster independence
3. Consider long-term goals
4. Create an intentional plan
5. Trust your intuition

Reassess and adjust. Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of your approach and be willing to make changes as needed.

10. Trust your intuition and adapt strategies to your child's uniqueness

Your intuitive sense of your child makes constructing intentional plans that support children incredibly simple, and it creates a frame of reference from which all decisions and responses are based.

Observe and reflect. Pay close attention to your child's personality, preferences, and rhythms. Use this knowledge to inform your parenting decisions and adapt strategies to fit your child's unique needs.

Be flexible. While it's important to have a consistent approach, recognize that what works for one child may not work for another, even within the same family. Be willing to adjust your methods based on each child's individual needs and temperament.

Trust yourself. As you gain experience and knowledge about your child, have confidence in your ability to make the best decisions for your family. While it's valuable to seek advice and learn from others, ultimately, you are the expert on your own child.

Last updated: July 31, 2024