Dear Katherine, My husband and I are working on our parenting and have realized that many of the changes that need to occur in our family start with us. We have much to learn about our own needs and behaviors, but as we put in the work, how realistic is it for us to expect […]
Dear Katherine, You talk about eliminating the 3 Rs (resistance, rebellion, retaliation) through conscious parenting. But don’t you think the 3 Rs are inevitable? Why is overcoming them so crucial, and is it even possible to put an end to them completely? Sincerely, It Feels Impossible Hey there, It Feels Impossible! I love this question. […]
Katherine, It pains me to write this, but our daughter is spoiled. She completely melts down when we say no—screaming, crying, and even getting physical. We need to start saying no to her. But these tantrums feel impossible to overcome. What should we do? Sincerely, Nervous It’s Too Late Hey there, Nervous It’s Too Late! […]
Dear Katherine, When I pick my son up from school, he seems to shut down completely. I ask him about his day, and he gives me one-word answers or responds, “I don’t know,” to my questions. He’s definitely prone to anxiety, but I’m worried about how down he seems when he gets home. How can […]
Dear Katherine, My kids love playing video games. They seem to take genuine pleasure in this activity, and while they’re occupied, I have a chance to do household chores and enjoy a little time to myself. I know there are better hobbies out there—but if they like gaming and it gives me a bit of […]
Dear Katherine, My 5-year-old LOVES sleeping with Mom and Dad at night. When we aren’t together, he says things like, “I’m so alone in this house,” which breaks my heart. When he began coming into our room at night, we tried to send him back to bed. But eventually, I recognized that he has an […]
Dear Katherine, I’ve often heard you talk about why controlling forms of discipline and punishments are ineffective. But what about when kids are in danger? Thankfully, I have yet to be in this specific position. Still, my kids are getting older. I’m worried about protecting them throughout their teen years without resorting to authoritarian discipline […]
Dear Katherine, My three children are 16, 13, and 9. They are all very social, but each child has a different curfew and different rules for social time. The 13-year-old is very upset that we won’t let her go to a party that ends at 11 p.m. She says that we would let our 16-year-old […]
Dear Katherine, My 5-year-old daughter has always disliked being told what to do. Now that we’re changing our approach to the parent-child relationship, she’s convinced that she was right all along about being able to do whatever she wants. When we give her even a little bit of freedom, she tries to take as much […]
Dear Katherine, When my two children are home from school, they don’t want to do anything. I try to get them involved in activities or camps (or at the very least encourage them to leave the house with me!) but they outright refuse.Then they complain that they’re bored! My older daughter, who is 13, calls […]