Power to the Parents! The sleepless frustrated overwhelmed and hopeless, especially. Because we've all been there... Parenting can be hard on an easy day. And every day, you do the most amazing work. You deserve to feel: supported, empowered, successful, confident, and peaceful. This is the foundation of Parenting for the Next Generation ----and the last call--- Join my on-line class + community for the $47 early bird registration ending tonight Friday, October 23rd. This Fall... Unlock your magic. Your wisdom. All that makes you, uniquely you. This isn't just parenting work. It's the essence of life work. All about you: in your power, in your flow, in your grace. You. Able to face the daily challenges of life: the tears the messes the "no's" morning to night. You. strong calm confident. The best of you. Join the Parenting for the Next Generation Online Class + Community $47, early bird registration ends today. The class + community begins October 28th. See you then! Click here to register and find the Parenting for the Next Generation heart: See you on the 28th of October!
All the best, Megan p.s. Parents of young children, parents of older children, moms, dads, and educators are all registering for the online class. It's going to be an a-mazing group of parents. Will you join us? All four live webinars on: October 28th November 4th November 11th & November 18th at 10:30 am PST/1:30 pm EST will also be recorded for viewing at a time that works best for you.
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Do you have one of these types of people in your life…. Bossy and controlling. Always telling you what to do. And pointing out what you did wrong. You know the type, right? Do you want to spend time with this person? Probably not. Let’s hope this person isn’t your boss. That’s the worst because they have power over you. As well-meaning parents, we often act like that bossy, negative, controlling, domineering boss we can’t stand. With our children, we might sound like this, “Don’t hit!” “Don’t run in the road!” “Don’t talk to me like that!” “Don’t take that from the baby.” "Don't throw the ball in the house." Do you feel good about yourself When someone is always telling you what not to do? Either do our little ones. Children who feel better, do better, as we say in Positive Discipline. ---and that goes for grown-ups too. Now, I hear the questions in your mind... But what DO I say to my child? What if there is a safety issue? How do I let them know this is serious? They were wrong, and they need to hear it. What if they don’t listen to me? What if they never learn? I hear you. Breathe, friends. There's another way. A way for you to..... communicate the most clearly so your children can most understand you, and in a way in which they will most want to listen to you. All with the peace of mind knowing you're teaching your children positive life skills, and what they can do to be successful in life-- not just what you don't want them to do. Telling your children what they can do takes practice + patience, like learning a new language. 1-2-3 Steps to Telling Children What They Can Do aka "Do Statements:"
2. What should your child be doing *right* now? Now, you probably know right off the bat you want your child to stop. doing. what. they're. doing. Like yesterday. Just stop that hitting, crying, throwing, jumping, running, or taking. But should they be doing? If you know what your children can do, they will know what they can do. And the amazing thing is with this clarity + positivity, they usually do exactly what we want them to do! So, how can you translate what they shouldn't be doing -------> to what they should be doing? Some ideas to get you going.... "Don't run." becomes --------> "Walk, please." or "We walk like this..." "Don't yell at me." becomes -----------> "Say, excuse me." "Don't stand in your chair." becomes ---------> "We sit in our chairs." "Don't take that toy." becomes "Let's ask for a turn." 3. Sync it up with positivity! So much of communication is in non-verbals. We might be saying something positive to our children, but our shoulders are to our ears, our face is strained, and there's frustration in our voice. Hey, it happens to all of us. Please be patient with you. If can you think of it, relax into the statement, get a picture in your mind of your little one doing what you want them to do, get down on their level, look them in the eye, smile, and say confidently what you are wanting to see happen next. Here's some ways you can embody the positive "Do Statement" with every fiber of your being.
While I hope this tool transforms your children's behavior, remember there is no magic pill to address every challenging behavior. I do promise you, the more you embody the positive, and your needs are met as a parent, the more positive change you will see at home. Please be patient with you, and your children. Remember children may need to hear the same thing up to 2,000 times before they learn it! (This is a Facebook fact, and not scientifically proven but it helps keep things in perspective.) Wishing you all the best in parenting, and in life--- and let me know how it goes! Megan p.s. Did you enjoy this tool? Would you like to continue your positive parenting practice to bring more fun + more peace to your home? Join 4 weeks of Parenting for the Next Generation Online Class + Community! Join the community + the movement to reclaim your birthright to a happy home! I met this woman through a mama community when I was back in my hometown of Utica, NY last year. She has chosen to keep her story about domestic violence anonymous, and I thank her for sharing her powerful words with us. #fromtheheartstories We got married when I was 18. The abuse started after I was pregnant with my daughter when I was 22. We had domestic violence issues, and it took me a full year to decide to actually leave him. When I initially filed the first police report, which involved kicking my husband out of the house, both sides of the family felt domestic violence is an issue that should be taken care of inside the family. It created a stigma for me. I felt my life was over for me because of the lack of the support. And I felt like I was labelled. So not only did you have the trauma from the abuse, but also being ostracized from your family? One cousin even asked me, what I did to him to cause him to be violent. Other family members asked if I was sure I wanted to be a single mother. So this created a whole year of going back and forth in my decision. Were there good times? Yes. Of course. That's what people might not realize: it's not abusive all the time. There's good and bad times. You're a family, just with a lot of craziness. And that was part of the problem, people only saw the good times. People want to believe what they see and can't believe what's going on behind closed doors. And some people still believe that an intact family is a better than a family getting divorced. With my ex mother-in-law, there is still a lot of blame. In my family, we just don't talk about it. I just sat down and accepted the label and that life as a single mother. Once I looked past my family members, I put positive people around me. I realized I had to press criminal charges against my ex husband. I wasn't responsible for his criminal charges. He was responsible for his own criminal charges. That was the first step. And then creating a support network for me and the children. I don't really talk about my divorce because of the fact it was caused by domestic violence abuse. I want other people to realize that you are not the cause of it. I did make excuses for a long time, as what I could be doing to cause the behavior. I want others to know that everyone deserves a healthy partnership and relationship. What about the impact on your children? My son is the oldest. He saw and remembers everything. He mimicked his father for a long time in regard to his sisters. We worked to reverse his behaviors. Like if he hit his sisters, I started to focus on his emotional needs and what he was feeling and how he reacted to that. And was that something you knew to do intuitively or did you have support? I have an associates degree in humans services, which is similar to counseling. But it is difficult to apply that information to your own life. And I also took the Nurture Class through UCP (United Cerebal Palsy). I think they offer something similar at the Family Nurturing Center. Also, if you feel your child is not getting along with peers or family members you can can bring him/her in to be evaluated at the Community Health Behavioral Center, and then learn how to coach them in appropriate behaviors . How is your son doing now? He's wonderful... I mean not perfect, his mama says with a smile. It makes me very happy to know I did the right thing by leaving my ex. I truly feel healthy relationships are not talked about enough, whether it's in school or at home. Mainly in romantic relationships, it should be talked about: how you should be treated, how you treat others, and how to maintain your identity. I don't want to put everything on the schools, but I think middle school in health or sex education, healthy relationships should be covered. As for as breaking the cycle, if I stayed in the relationship, I would have a son who thought that is how he is to treat women, and a daughter who thinks this is the way she should be treated. What about the impact on your daughter? My older daughter has some attachment issues. She's very friendly, but it's difficult for her to attach to people. She's bubbly, but it's hard for her to trust people. She always feels like people are going to leave. I worry how this will affect her as she starts to date. One time we were shopping and she saw a mom, dad and baby walking and she said to me, “I just have you.” I see my dad a couple times a week, so it's hard for me to accept. Did you have an experience with domestic violence as child? Often patterns are set early in our childhood and then repeat themselves. No, but my mom is mentally ill. I remember her kicking me out of the house. I was looking at an escape from a young age. Then I got myself into a less than ideal situation. First, I was defined by having a mentally ill mother. I remember at 13, people started to watch me to see if I was going to become bi-polar. What I have learned is not to let situations define you. I hate when I see people define themselves on a situation and get stuck. Then you miss out on the rest of your lives, and exist only as that person who went through that experience. I've learned to ignore other people's labels and take care of myself and my children. What may have happened to you early in life doesn't define the rest of your existence. When I was young, I sought an escape from living with a mentally ill mother, but ultimately my escape led to a less than ideal situation. I've learned from my experiences, and today my goal is to give my children the healthiest home environment possible. It's important not to feel victimized, and also to remove people from your life who are full of negativity. Today, I want to use my experiences to help others have healthier relationships. Working in my field helping people find services and housing, is an empowering experience, and I am grateful to be able to help people. Starting a new chapter allows you to define the person you want to be, not the person you were once told you were. So those situations don't define you, they are pages of your life. Resources Nation-wide domestic violence crisis hotline at (800) 799-SAFE. Resources in the Utica, NY area and Central New York State Utica: YWCA Mohawk Valley Crisis Services Oneida County 24-hour hotline: (315) 797-7740. Herkimer County 24-hour hotline: (315) 866-4120. Herkimer: Catholic Charities 24-hour hotline: 315-866-0458 Samaritan Counseling Center (315) 724-5173 Syracuse: Vera House 24 HOUR CRISIS & SUPPORT LINES: 315.468.3260 Resources in the Portland metro area and Columbia County, Oregon Portland Women's Crisis Line Phone: 503-235-5333 Raphael House 24-hour Crisis Hotline: 503-222-6222 General Organization Calls: 503-222-6507 Emergency shelter in a confidential location, support via a 24-hour housing access line, & transitional housing and advocacy programs, Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Office: (503) 230-1951 Not an emergency crisis hotline or shelter service. Use their FIND HELP directory to locate services near you. Columbia County SAFE of Columbia County 24 hour crisis hotline: (866) 397-6161. We all lose it. No such thing, as a perfect parent. Feel better? Parenting is hard work yet there's this shame to messing up like no one does it truth is happens on most days in most homes we mess up we lose it with our kids yet we hide it from each other awareness is key to positive change so when you lose it with your children you mess up as a parent try this 1-2-3 perspective shift to find your inner rainbow Check the pattern. When do you tend to lose it? morning? bedtime? dinnertime? when you're tired or hungry? when your child cries or talks back? Notice the pattern, gently and without judgement. Your trigger is your unmet need. Behind your trigger as a parent, the pattern of you losing it there's ________ your unmet need what you need that you're not currently getting Like a puzzle can you figure out what it is? Do you need: more sleep or support? more time to yourself? to bring closure on a memory from your own childhood? or maybe a little more respect from your little one? Get clear on what you need even it seems huge and out of reach Now get specific. Do you deprive yourself of what you need? Say it ain't possible? Feel too exhausted to take care of you? Open up to that rainbow in the storm little bit of sunshine something small you can do for you To meet your need before you lose it change your moment Looking for some ideas? One mom of three sets the timer for 10 minutes 10 minutes all to herself she gives herself that gift Or you could get psyched up for a calm bedtime by giving yourself a walk around the house a song you love some jumping jacks before the marathon of the day comes to an ends and bedtime begins Look for little moments just for you to goldmine throughout your day to reconnect you with you We lose it as parents when our needs aren't met. Be open to what you need Get specific Make it happen Baby steps to your rainbow in the storm. You got this, Megan p.s. Did you enjoy this post? Do you connect to my way of supporting parents? Two options to join my community this Fall --and the positive parenting movement: Join the Parenting for the Next Generation Project: Begins November 4th, 2015 Just $47 (until 10/21) For positive change to last a lifetime. For more information and to register, click here. Welcome to the community, and the movement! Join the Calm and Confident Parenting Program: Individual support & empowerment for your family Create and sustain new patterns in your home. More peace. More fun. More respect. More cooperation. Everyday. Visit the Calm and Confident Parent Program for more information, and to schedule your complementary exploratory session. p.s.s. You got this. Promise. You know those moments in parenting. You're about to scream. You do scream. It's time to get going. And your child is not moving. Melt down looming on the horizon. This little person can't make a decision. You're about to start exerting your force. Or threatening. Maybe you do. We all have those moments. Inevitable part of parenting. But it doesn't have to end in tears. Time for a new for a new tool? Drum roll please.... Two Positive Choices One of my favorite Positive Discipline tools. Here's some steps to get you going and out the door, minus the tears and power struggles. A way to move forward throughout your day, with an empowered and connected child & self. #1 = Stay calm Take a deep breath. Jump up and down. Leave the room for a quick moment, if possible. Do what it is you do to return to a neutral space within. Your child may be upset, but you are in your center. You are the calm within the storm. Now move forward from your center into this moment of Two Positive Choices. #2 Offer a little affirmation As Amanda, one of my beloved Positive PlayTime parents says, "we all like to be seen and heard." True, right? Offering a little affirmation to what your child is experiencing goes a long, long way. "It's hard to make a decision." "We all feel upset sometimes." "You really want to stay at the park." "I hear you." "You'd rather play than clean up." Think how much better you feel when someone is truly listening to you, without judgment or telling you that your experience is wrong. Our children are the same. When children feel heard, they are more likely to cooperation. Check out this book, for more helpful communication tools. #3 Two Positive Choices From that place of calm neutrality, and of respecting the experiences of your children (even if deep down it drives you crazy that your little one won't just get their @#$! shoes on!), offer Two Positive Choices. Do you want to do that by yourself or with my help? Would you like to put the puzzle or the game away first? Do you want to wear your red shirt or blue shirt? Jacket or sweat shirt? Set the table or put the spoons away? Fly like a bird to the car or moo like a cow? It really can be that simple. Two positive choices can be that easy. A way to move through your day without the struggle or the tears. Here's a couple other things to keep in mind... Offer Two Positive Choices that are ok with you. Sometimes we offer a choice as a parent, and as soon as it comes out of our mouths, we're like why did I offer that as a choice? Then you have to quickly take it back (usually not an easy thing to do) Or over-ride your needs for the sake of standing behind your word. Neither are great options. If you can move from your calm center, your highest place as a parent, offering choices that you can stand behind is more likely to happen. But it still might happen. It's all part of the process. Be patient with you. Is Two Positive Choices not working? At all. Is your child hungry, tired, or has had a really hard day? Are you majorly stressed out? When our basic needs aren't met, we are uncooperative beings. Both children and parents. If your child isn't responding to Two Positive Choices, do a little inventory. Is either one of us tired? Hungry? Thirsty? Am I stressed out as a parent? If you answered yes, to anyone of these questions, meet the basic need asap. And if you are majorly stressed out, please be patient with you. And recognize your child may be mirroring your feelings. How about a hug? In your mind, picture your child doing one of those choices. The more we learn about neuroscience and child development, the more we realize children are like little mind-readers. Simply put, children behave the way we think they will. Picture your child in a good place, empowered and doing what needs to happen next. This will help your child feel empowered and do what needs to happen next. Have fun with Two Positive Choices! While there is no one tool to transform all your parenting challenges, Two Positive Choices is one of the many positive parenting tools that will bring more ease and cooperation to your home. So you can get out the door with a smile on everyone's face, and say goodbye to tears and power struggles. Interested in learning more about how positive parenting tools + support from Megan can transform the daily challenges you face? Schedule a complementary 30 minute session with Megan. Learn more about how the Calm + Confident Parent Program can help you become your highest self in parenting, and in life. Two Positive Choices Practice in action |
Mama Megan
Hi friends, I write from the heart to tell my life story, and the story of those in my neighborhood called life. Research shows that our children's emotional & mental health is contingent upon us parents being able to tell our life story, or "coherent narrative." This is my coherent narrative, my life story in the making, with some of what I love in life too. My goal is to share my life in a way that is real, uplifting & positive- sometimes serious, sometimes fun. In my practice, I inspire parents to empowerment through reclaiming our life stories and learning respectful discipline. My work is my offering to our children- our future. Wishing you all a happy family! Archives
May 2021
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