Better Behavior in 30 Days, Phase 2: I Stood in a Hallway for 30 Seconds, Convinced I Was Losing
Phase 2: Respond Differently: The Outcome Doesn't Move, But Everything Else Can
My daughters recently came home from a playdate, and I could tell before either of them said a word that something had happened because one of them was quiet and withdrawn.
I asked her sister if something happened and that's when it came out. The friend who'd hosted the playdate is close with one of my daughters, ...
Better Behavior in 30 Days, Phase 1: I Was Wrong About Her, Twice, Before 7am
Phase 1: See It Differently: Asking Before Deciding
My daughter wakes up around 5am most mornings, before anyone else in the house is up. So by the time I get downstairs, she's usually already there, waiting for a hug.
This particular morning, my arms were full with coffee, my laptop bag, and some random clothes hangers. I remember her looking excited to see me and reaching for a hug despite ...
What Do You Do When There's No Script For This?
She grabbed her daughter's body and pulled her back into the car seat, hard enough that her head bonked against the car frame. Her daughter protested, "You're being rude to me," and inside, this mom agreed.
For this mom, it had been one of those days. It was actually the first day back at school. She had brought her daughters to come shopping with her after school, and it was rough. This mom ...

