Back from a Hiatus

I'm back from a hiatus. It seems I barely got started here before I needed a break. At least I know my limitations right? I'm so excited because I solicited help from some online mom-friends. I wanted some concrete topics to discuss. I love to wax philosophical, but sometimes I just want to roll up my sleeves and dig in to the realities of parenthood. I got so many great topic requests, I'm starting a Q and A. I'll tackle each question one by one until I get through them.

Some of the questions I feel confident jumping right into. Others may require a bit more thought on my part. I also feel the need to add a disclaimer. I would love to think that my ideas would work for every person out there. My advice will often not include such information as: Do X to get Y. However, if I can help a parent see something in a different way, I've accomplished part of my goal.

We are so driven as parents to want to squash bad behaviors. We feel like failures if we don't succeed on the first try with our discipline tactic. We wonder what others will think of us or what we are doing wrong. We are quick to imagine our sons and daughters as future felons if they lie or complete social misfits if they don't share their toys when asked.

I don't live my life in absolutes. Parenting is shades of grey for me. I strive to see every situation as somewhat unique. Continued poor behaviors are patterns formed or a sign of something greater underlying. Because of this belief, I try not to offer "fire extinguisher" parenting tactics. I try to find the cause of the fire so it doesn't need to put it out in the first place.

I hope you can find something of value in my words that you can use in your household.