Talking About It

Where do we even start when addressing difficult behaviors? This brief cheat sheet offers a formula of sorts.

• Are my expectations age appropriate?

• Does my child have the capacity to do this thing I’m asking of them?

• Am I feeling pressure from somewhere (or someone) to parent in a specific way, and feel this behavior is proof that I’m not doing it right? This comes in to play when we hear perspectives like “if you were really in charge he wouldn’t be running all over you like that” or “that mom has no control over her kid”. Sometimes these are perspectives we learned growing up, and sometimes it’s things we think those around us might be thinking.