There is a pervasive myth that all gifted people are high achievers.But many are not.Most young gifted children are a ball of energy, full of life, curious, intense, and driven. Then reality sets in. They confront the limitations of school, peer pressure, others' expectations and their own fears, and some scale back their drive. Their intrinsic love...
Home » Archives for January 2016
The Story of Home: Creating Family Culture
Home is the place where we first receive and practice love. It’s our first view of relationships. It’s the place where we (hopefully) experience acceptance, compassion, affirmation, and solace. Home is where we are shaped by the words and actions of those around us and by the atmosphere, the traditions, the routines, and the day-to-day experiences...
Beyond Behavior: Looking at the Heart of a Child
All three faces on his behavior chart were flipped to the sad face side. Again. That meant he had to go to time-out. Again. It didn’t take much to get a card flipped on the chart, which I thought was a simple and brilliant concept. From a sheet of construction paper labeled 'Behavior Chart' hung 3 cards, each with a happy face on one side and a sad...
Turning Toward Our Children: Answering Bids for Connection
World-renowned relationship researcher and co-founder of The Gottman Institute, Dr. John Gottman, has conducted 40 years of research with thousands of people. From his research has emerged a practice that is important to the emotional connection between two people – the act of “turning toward” your loved one when a bid is made. What is a bid?According...
Two Words to Soothe a Child's Heart
I had just gotten out of the shower and dressed when a knock came on the bathroom door."Yeah?" I answered."Mom, can I come in?""Just a minute" I said."It's really important."I opened the door to the worried face of my 9 year old boy. He looked to be holding back tears."What is it?" I asked him."Mom, have I been a bit rude to you today?" he asked, tears...
Five misconceptions about therapists
If you or your gifted child need therapy...How do you know what to look for, whether to trust that person sitting across from you, and when to listen to your gut if it just doesn't feel right?Several recent blog posts and articles have highlighted what to ask when seeking therapy for or your , when therapy is helpful for , and , and how...
21 Days to Positive Parenting
I invite you to take the next 21 days to commit to being a more positive parent. Whether you are new to positive parenting or you’ve been practicing it for a long time, we are all works in progress with room for improvement and growth.Journaling has many benefits, including helping us to clarify our thoughts and solve problems more effectively. Remember...
25 Ways to Calm an Upset Child
The first step in teaching children how to manage their emotions is learning to manage our own. If adults are easily upset and thrown off balance, their children will usually follow suit. Growing ourselves may be the hardest part of parenting. Many of us are simultaneously learning new skills and trying to teach them to our children. In , I discuss...
How to stop yourself from doing something you regret in a moment of anger by Andy Smithson
How to stop yourself from doing something you regret in a moment of angerby Andy SmithsonOur kid's big emotions tend to be a major trigger to our big emotions as parents. Anger often begets anger. Emotions are truly contagious. With that said, our emotions do not have to be our masters.I recently experienced a little emotional contagion of my...