Recently I was going through some old photo albums and before I knew it, an hour had passed. It brought back such fond memories of so many different events! I’m guessing you have photos like that too. For this throwback Thursday, find a photo of you when you were younger and then find a similar picture of your child(ren) at a similar age. Talk about the photos with your kids. Tell them the story about you in your picture and tell them the story of them in their picture, if they don’t remember. Reminiscing like this can really boost a sense of belonging and well-being. Just be sure to choose photos that you think they will enjoy. Ideally, don’t use photos of a time they ended up getting in trouble unless the photo of you is when you got in trouble afterwards. The benefit here is that could lead to a discussion about how all of us make mistakes sometimes but that’s how we learn. However, a ‘fun’ photo will be more powerful and create a boost for the rest of the day!

Hello all – it’s thankful Tuesday! As odd as it sounds, I’m asking you to be thankful for misbehavior. Yes – really. When a child misbehaves, it is their attempt at testing boundaries OR they are trying to communicate something. Either way, it’s a developmental process that is necessary for learning and connecting. That doesn’t mean you treat the misbehavior as something cute, funny, or acceptable. But sometimes simply changing our mindset (i.e., being thankful) about what’s occurring can help us deal with the misbehavior in a more calm, positive way.

Check out my book, E.N.R.I.C.H. Your Relationship With Your Child for other great strategies.

“When dealing with misbehavior, keep in mind these behaviors occur for several reasons – because of your child’s natural developmental process, the environment, and current feelings and emotions.”

(E.N.R.I.C.H. p. 188)

With all the things going on in the world, children can easily get confused, worried, and downright scared. Make sure you have regular conversations as a family about daily action steps you can take to help keep the focus on what CAN be done. For example, try talking with your kids today about one thing they can do this week to help someone. Small acts of kindness can add up to having a more positive outlook for both children and parents. “Children rely on the adults in their life to provide safety and a sense of control” (E.N.R.I.C.H. Your Relationship With Your Child, 2021).

TGIF! Fridays are great but Friday nights are even better! Tonight, as you wind down from your week, try a little game. See how many times the word ‘fantastic’ can be used! “It’s dinner time!” “Fantastic!” “Time to brush your teeth.” “Fantastic!” “I forgot to do my homework.” “Fantastic!” Of course, that’s not really fantastic but it certainly changes the mood, right?! Lightening things up at the end of a week with this, or any sort of silliness or game, can help you and your family get in the right mindset to have a great weekend, which definitely sounds good, right? No – it’s FANTASTIC! 🙂

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! When you were growing up, how did you celebrate? Did you get pinched if you weren’t wearing green? What kinds of things do you remember about this special day? Share those memories with your child! It not only encourages conversation but it can help your child learn more about you and your experiences, making you more of a ‘person’ rather than just a ‘parent.’ 🙂

Have you hit the middle of the week slump?! Get a bit wacky to liven things up! Check out the calendar of things you can celebrate. Some of them are so much fun! For example, did you know there was a National Middle Name Pride Day!? Get wild this Wednesday and have everyone in your family use their middle names. Have fun!

Check out other fun ideas on the Blogs, Tweets, & Stuff page!

Thankful Tuesday, 3-1-22

Today is thankful Tuesday & as I watch the snow falling for the umpteenth time this winter, I’m thankful for vacations! This is the vacation week for schools here in New Hampshire and falling snow means more fun on the slopes. As you go through your week, see if you can squeeze in some sort of ‘vacation’ with your family – even if it means taking a break from your usual Tuesday routines. A little time off helps our communication, connection, and caring.

“Memories made together last a lifetime.”

It’s Tuesday – a great day to be thankful! Gratitude for what we have helps create a positive, caring environment. Find something about your child you are thankful for – they way they take out the trash, helping with the dog, or something as simple as their smile. In fact, tonight at dinner, see if each of you can share something you are thankful for. It does wonders for the heart and health of the family! I’m thankful you read my post! Dr. Debbie 🙂