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Helping mothers create routines, boundaries, and family practices.

Toddler

Does A Smart Child + Boredom = Naughty Behavior?

Some moms are worried that their smart child is going to get bored in school. And, that this boredom will lead to naughty behavior. This is within the realm of possibility. Do these things to avoid this outcome:

A reader I recently spoke to had a great comment concerning preparing her toddler (now 2) for preschool and school, and a secret fear she was harboring.

“I want to prepare my son for preschool and school and teach him a lot of things, but
I am worried that if I do that he’ll go and be bored and naughty. My mom always
said the naughtiest kids were the ones who were very smart and bored at school.” 

Ahhh… I think her mother is often right.

The naughiest kids may well be some of the smartest and the most bored. But does that mean your smart child will necessarily be naughty?

Does it mean that preparing them in advance will just set them up to have behavior issues at school?

Let’s think on this… 

It’s not necessarily what you’re teaching them, but how you’re teaching them to learn…

Teaching your kids focusing and paying attention skills will pay greater dividends them teaching them how to read early.

Learning the ability to sit still and pay attention is far better than multiplication and Mandarin at age 4.

Children are all able to learn and are like sponges. However, the amount they are able to absorb will greatly depend on how well they can pay attention and focus on what they are supposed to be learning.

Prepare children at home by engaging them in activities and don’t worry too much about the activity itself. Instead, focus on training them to remain in their seat and be patient with what you’re doing.

It’s the same self-control that keeps them from jumping up and down in their dining room chair that helps them stay seated and pay attention to their teacher.

Create a strong framework for learning by giving them the tools to be able to absorb and process information. Don’t worry too much if your neighbor’s kids seem to be little geniuses. Children will learn in their own time if they have the tools.

Prepare your smart child for obedience, whether they are bored or not.

It’s not a matter of if they will get bored, it’s when.

So, they are going to face boredom… it’s inevitable. At school, it’s when they finish their work with extra time.

Prepare them for this while they are at home. Training in obedience, self-control, and discipline (even when they are bored) will go a long way in helping prevent naughty behavior at school.

  • Requiring them to sit in public when you are busy,
  • having them stay beside you for short periods of time at home, and
  • reading a book or coloring while you are occupied

… will help show a child that they are able to control their urges.

Also, explain to your children the “rules” of school. Proper explanation and sharing of expectations will go a long way in preparing a child’s mind for what’s to come.

Read: Time In Vs. Time Out … and is Time Out Damaging Kids?

Connection & Culture

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Manners in a Disconnected World

Equipping parents with a simple, consistent approach to teaching and reinforcing good manners so that their child naturally incorporates polite behavior into daily life.
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Shepherd their heart, not just their brain.

I think that in the early years, moral and “heart attitude” training will take a child a lot further than simply teaching them colors or their ABC’s.

Now, don’t get me wrong… I love learning and teaching my children.

However, if I had to pick one I’d pick the heart training.

Heart training is not forcing your child to do what you decide is morally right. It’s living life alongside your child and communicating your values and important life concepts.

Heart training is…

  • Using discipline to communicate what attitudes and behaviors are not acceptable (hatred, rebellion, violence, etc.) and
  • molding your child’s heart to be one that wants to do the right thing.
  • Not as a mindless drone, but as a respectful smart child.

Focus on behaviors that are naughty and train your child to be patient and obedient. Then, find that no matter how quick they pick up on the lesson, they won’t become the class clown or troublemaker.

The #1 Secret for Getting Kids to Listen the First Time

Boundaries & Behavior

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Discipline with Dignity

Discipline shouldn’t feel like a battle or a shot in the dark. This workshop gives you a clear, balanced plan for setting boundaries that build respect and responsibility—without yelling, harsh punishments, or constant power struggles.
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Communicate with the teacher and train your smart child at home.

As always, just keep abreast of what your smart child is doing.

  • If they are finding it hard to concentrate at school, there are plenty of opportunities for you to help them at home.
  • If they are finding it hard to finish their work at school, check to see if they are distracted or uninterested.

It is the lessons and skills we give our children at home that enable them to excel and reach success.

They can be the best students and the best behaved, the worst students and the worst behaved, or any combination in the middle.

We definitely shouldn’t be afraid to give them tons of opportunities to soak up knowledge and information as long as we temper and balance it with heart and obedience training.

The fact is, we are far more likely to get in trouble if we’re bored (and this is true for teenagers too, hello).

I used to get in trouble because I would finish my work fast and then try to talk to everyone else who was working. I’d have to go sit alone just so that I would shut up.

Our children may be slower than average, average, or faster than average with their school work and in every other area of life.

50+ Life Skills (By Age!)

Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!

As parents and mothers all we can really do is to think, strategize, prepare, and train to the best of our ability. After that it’s up to them.

::

Are you Afraid to make your Children Angry?

ar you afraid to make your child angry

I agree. No one likes to have an unhappy baby/toddler/child. I’m not talking about the kind of frustration that comes from being hungry, sick or teething. I’m talking about when our kids get angry because they don’t get their way. When they pitch a fit because they’re told no.

When they throw a temper tantrum because you won’t buy them a toy. I don’t mean a one time occurrence. Let’s face it, asserting their will is a developmental milestone and we should be happy our children are growing up and starting to have opinions, preferences and desires. However, lying is also a developmental milestone. Just because we can expect it does not mean we should ignore it, or worse, condone it by lack of intervention.

[Read more…] about Are you Afraid to make your Children Angry?

5 Phrases To Stop Dinner Time Battles Once And For All

If you’re in the thick of dinner time battles then this is for you. You might also want to read my related helpful phrases posts:

Here’s our basic food routine.

Breakfast: grits, cereal or something random (if we have options they can choose).

Snack: their choice

Lunch: sandwich and fruit (both of which they can choose if we have options)

Snack: their choice

Dinner:  whatever I happen to cook (usually two or three separate foods on the plate)

As you can see, I give my children choices where possible. I remember genuine preferences, and will give dill pickles to those who like them and not force feed those who don’t. I’m a caring mom.

While I’m a fan of letting children make appropriate decisions, and a fan of granting deserved freedoms, a mother of 4 (or 3 or 2 or 1…) can’t cater to every opinion and whim of each child.

My preschooler and toddler will love something one day and snub it the next. There’s no rhyme or reason, and if I played short order cook at every meal I’d end up committed. It’s not practical.

And it’s not good for the kids. 

Here are 5 dinner time phrases that can help stop battles (when practiced with consistency) that will help make dinner run smoothly and cut back on dinner time battles. 

If you have super picky eaters you might want to read Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating or The Picky Eating Solution.

1. “You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit”

Does this mean your kids can’t have an opinion? No! Does it mean you are force feeding them liver, sauerkraut, and brussel sprouts to prove some point? Obviously not. It simply means that they aren’t allowed to look at their plate and pitch a fit. It’s disrespectful. It’s contagious. And it’s not an appropriate response even if they genuinely dislike the food served.

If your children consistently have contagious meltdowns or throw tantrums at the table, this is a great opportunity to teach them to appropriately release their emotions. It’s not about them pretending they are happy to please you (no way!). But just because they don’t like lasagna doesn’t mean they can cause a scene.

Boundaries & Behavior

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Bye, Bye Backtalk

Backtalk isn’t just annoying—it’s draining, discouraging, and makes even the simplest requests feel like full-blown negotiations. This workshop will give you a step-by-step plan to stop the constant pushback and start building respectful, two-way communication with your kids. Because when you know how to hold boundaries and help your child feel heard, the fight fizzles—and connection takes its place.
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2. “You have two choices: take it or leave it”

I’m not being cute, this is literal. If my children don’t eat their dinner (aside from one bite) I will keep it out and they can have it as their before bed snack. There is no skipping all of dinner then being given yummy yogurt and strawberries before bed. But, before you send me hate mail, get this… more often than not they’ll jump up to the counter and happily finish their dinner plates.

They can eat what’s been lovingly prepared (by yours truly who does take into account what they like and don’t like) or they can leave it. But there’s no option B or dessert without having eaten. Not because I’m mean, but because life doesn’t always offer you a buffet. And my home is a place of reality.

3. “Taste before you waste”

I don’t think it’s a good idea to make them finish their plate. I had a friend who went to a school where the students were forced to finish their entire plate at lunch. She thinks it contributed to her being unable to recognize and stop eating when she’s full. To her, full = empty plate.

Sometimes my kids clean their plate and other times they do not. I’m not interested in serving sizes. I’m interested in them having a teachable and positive attitude that says, “I’ll try one bite and see if I like it!” If they try it and dislike it that’s okay. If there are 3 items on the plate and they try one bite of each and then stop. Fine. But often they will try it and find they like it. That’s our rule: at least one bite.

4. “It ain’t over ’til it’s over”

Part of the reason children don’t eat what’s on their plate is that they want to get down and go play. They think saying they don’t like it means more TV or iPad time.

I tell my kids if they don’t like what’s on their plate and have eaten their one bite, they still have to stay at the table until dinner is over. Dinner is not over because they rejected my macaroni. Dinner is over when everyone (within reason) is finished.

It’s polite. It’s kind. And it’s good for kids to learn to wait. 

Connection & Culture

0-5, 13-18, 6-12

Manners in a Disconnected World

Equipping parents with a simple, consistent approach to teaching and reinforcing good manners so that their child naturally incorporates polite behavior into daily life.
Start Now

5. “Thank the cook before you book it”

My husband has a rule that the kids thank me for cooking and then ask him to be excused. I think it’s very polite for the children to thank the person who spent time, energy, and money preparing food for them. It’s a great habit to get into!

Even if my husband has to prompt the kids, hearing them smile at me and say, “Thank you for dinner, mommy” warms the heart.

Even if they gave my food the stink eye.

And acted like they were gagging when they swallowed their one bite.

And still opted to go to bed without a snack so they didn’t have to finish it. 

::

Toddler Tantrums – 4 Reasons They Aren’t A Bad Sign

Toddler tantrums are things of myth. All your 1, 2, and 3 year olds may have tantrums and meltdown from time to time, here’s how to respond.

The first time my oldest ever threw a tantrum was when we had company over. For Thanksgiving dinner. It was short-lived and all was well by the time the turkey came out, but it was a good initiation into the toddler years.

Instead of realizing that tantrums are developmentally normal and responding calmly and with intention, we mothers often go into panic mode. We attempt anything and everything to make them stop. .

We see a tantrum and think that we – obviously – are doing something very wrong in our parenting.

4 ways tantrums in toddlers can be a good thing

Reasons some toddler tantrums are a sign you’re doing something right

I don’t buy it. Sure tantrums aren’t fun and nobody likes to witness a screaming child throw down in Wal-Mart.

But it isn’t the tantrum that matters nearly as much as our response to the tantrum. Here are four ways I think tantrums are actually a good thing.

1. Crying and meltdowns often mean you’ve set a boundary

If your child never fusses, argues or fights your decisions it means you are giving in to their every desire. In other words, you’re being too easy if your toddler never throws a tantrum.

No you can’t run across the road without me. 

No, in fact, it’s not good to eat 3 brownies right before dinner. 

I’m truly sorry, but going to church naked is just not okay. 

The fact that your child is Throwing a Tantrum can often mean you’ve put a boundary in place and are sticking to it. That’s a good sign. Do we want to deprive our children and say no all the time? Of course not.

The goal is never to say no for no’s sake. But on occasion we must risk making our children angry because we know what’s best for them.

Read: Boundaries And Limits – The Key To Sanity In Parenting

Motherhood & Wellbeing

If Mama Ain’t Happy: Boundaries For Moms

Boundaries aren’t harsh or selfish. They protect your energy, peace, and sanity so you can show up as the mom you want to be. This workshop helps you figure out where you need them, set them with confidence, and stick to them without guilt or burnout. Because when you hold your limits, everyone benefits.
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2. It may mean toddlers are testing the boundaries

Children will push the envelope and test your resolve. It isn’t that they just want to know what you’re made of, but they want to know if you mean what you say. They want to know if they can believe you and trust you. Why?

Because if you carry through on your “no” you’ll carry through with your “yes.” 

There is great comfort in being in relationship with a person who is transparent and full of integrity. Their yes’s are yes and their no’s are no. Kids feel safe within boundaries.

Read: What’s Really Happening When Your Child Is Defiant

The boundary phenomenon in school aged kids

I read a book recently that told an interesting story of a playground with a fence. When the fence was up the children would hover around the perimeter in groups talking and playing.

The administrators decided to remove the fence so the kids would feel more free, and do you know what happened? The playground shrank as a result. They did not venture out nearly as far as they had when there was a boundary present.

They weren’t sure how close they could get to the road or not, so they stayed nearer to the building. It may seem counterintuitive, but boundaries are freeing. 

Read: A Surprising Reason Your Kids Are Insecure

3. It gives opportunity to train your children how to handle their emotions

I am a big proponent of training our children how to release their emotion in healthy ways. There’s no better time than a tantrum (or the lead up to a tantrum) to help our kids learn how to channel their frustrations.

While I certainly don’t think our kids need to be given free rein to lose it and make the rest of us suffer, it’s paramount that our reactions train our children not to stifle their emotions. I talk all about that in these posts below.

Boundaries & Behavior

Loving Authority

Being in charge doesn’t mean being harsh or heavy-handed—it means being steady, clear, and confident. This workshop will help you understand what healthy authority really looks like. When you know how to show up as a secure, grounded leader, your kids feel safe, and everyone starts listening.
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4. It gives opportunity to show love after conflict

While discipline and boundaries are important, they should always be done over a foundation of love. We love our children because they are our children, not because of their behavior.

Their position as a member of our family makes them worthy of our love and respect, regardless of whether they’ve thrown my cell phone into the toilet, and proceeded to throw a tantrum because they lost TV privileges.

If you set a boundary and they respond with an angry emotional outburst, when the dust is cleared you’re all set up for a demonstration of your love.

After the toddler meltdowns, you can do this…

Now, I’m not saying you’re going to love your toddler’s tantrums, but you may end up loving this part!

When the consequence or tantrum is over, they are still your beloved child. Hugs, kisses, conversation and life can go on as normal. There’s no need to drag it out, give the silent treatment or cause them to live in fear of punishment in some misguided effort to scare them into obedience.

When kids know your love is a sure thing, they are less motivated to use negative attention seeking behaviors to get a little attention.

So… next time you witness some killer toddler tantrums because you held up a boundary you can smile. You can smile knowing:

  • you are doing your job;
  • they will thank you for it later;
  • they are not emotionally repressed;
  • and you can give endless comfort cuddles!

Moving with Small Children: 8 Effective Strategies to Ease the Transition

Excited to have Lauren here talking about strategies to help keep stability for your baby during a big move. Or many big moves! 

Our family recently moved to Japan via a military move. In preparing for our big move overseas to Japan, I did a fair amount of research beforehand on moving with small children, and I also learned a lot along the way. Research shows that moving is one of the top stressors you can experience in life. Change in living conditions and change in residence fall number 28 and 32, respectively, on the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale. I have yet to find anything that says where moving overseas falls on that scale, but I’m going to guess that it is significantly more stressful to move abroad than it is within your home country.

So for a moment let’s reflect on how stressful moving can be as an adult. Next, let’s transfer that stress onto a child and multiply it since it is very likely the child will have a difficult time understanding what is actually happening. It sounds slightly discouraging, but I don’t think it has to be that way. Let’s explore a few strategies to help small children cope with a move or any big life transition for that matter.

1. Collaborate with your spouse

As with everything in our lives, I think clear communication with your spouse is essential. Even more so, developing a plan to manage stress and help your child transition is the catalyst for getting through tough phases. My husband and I talk almost daily about current challenges and struggles related to our family life. We are not trying to focus on the negative, but rather we are attempting to address real issues head on.

When we talked about moving, it often involved strategizing our son’s sleep. Despite our travels and big move, we always wanted to prioritize our child’s sleep, even if that meant sacrificing our own fun and play. We also talked a lot about providing our son with consistency and setting a positive tone in our home, which brings me to my next strategy.

Motherhood & Wellbeing

Parenting in Hard Times

Parenting through a crisis feels heavy—but you don’t have to do it alone. This workshop gives you a clear plan to bring stability, emotional safety, and strength to your family when life gets shaky. Because in hard times, your kids need a steady, loving guide.
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2. Mom and dad set the tone.

As parents, our children look to us for guidance even when we aren’t actively guiding them. This means when you are stressed or yelling or simply at your wits end with an impending event in your life, your child observes and watches you. He looks and notices that you are stressed. He looks and notices your day to day attitude. This is why it is so important to effectively manage your own stress.

Exercise, eat right, and take a few hours to yourself to recharge: all of these things are important and worth the time when preparing for a big transition. We want to employ a calm and sensitive tone in our home, especially before, during and after a big transition, as this is the time our children are more apt to perceive our stress.

3. Talk to your child about the upcoming changes.

If your child is old enough, go ahead and discuss that you will be moving to a new home. Feel free to talk about it as frequently as possible, since small children learn and understand best through repetition. Allow your child to become comfortable with the idea. Be sure to remind your child that everyone is moving together and that everyone is staying together. This will help your child become more secure with the idea of moving.

4. Allow your child to participate.

Again if you child is old enough, allow them to participate in the process. Grab a few boxes and let your child pack up his room a bit, and while doing so, explain why you are packing. If you live close enough to where you are moving, take your child to your new home and allow him to explore before the actual move. Once you actually move, several articles I read suggested unpacking the child’s room first to allow him to have access to all his regular items. This can provide a secure sanctuary for your child when the rest of the house is in chaos.

5. Keep a good routine.

The world is a chaotic and stressful place to a small child, and schedules and routines offer children feelings of safety and security. Children learn to expect what happens next in a day to day routine, and they can feel confident in that. Knowing what comes next helps new situations feel less stressful.

A big transition is exactly the time that Babywise comes in the most handy. If you are already doing Babywise, you’ve likely established a good schedule, pre-nap routines, pre-bedtime routines, and just a sound structure to your days. The beauty of the schedule is that is goes wherever you go.

Travel or moving? These routines follow you along the way. This is probably the biggest thing that can help your child through a big transition. The message here is keep your routines and schedules as much the same as possible, and you will reap the rewards, which leads me to my next strategy.

6. Keep as much the same as possible.

When we are about to endure a big life transition, we minimize all change outside of that. A mom once told me if you move, try and keep the child’s room exactly the same as it was at the old home. Arrange the room as similarly as possible. Paint it the same color. Keep the same toys, blankets, and decorations to help the child gain a sense of familiarity.

I’m also huge advocate for ‘lovies’ (e.g. a stuffed animal or blankie). We introduced a lovey at 6 months and use it to help cue sleep and also to provide comfort and security. We keep a lovey only in the crib, unless we are about to go through a big transition. Then we use the lovey a lot more liberally. We use it during travel in the car or a plane, and we let him keep it along with him during play in a new environment. Loveys offer children an easy sense of security, and they are simple to implement.

Connection & Culture

13-18, 6-12

Rooted in Family

Family life shouldn’t feel like a blur of to-do lists that leave you wondering if the memories are even sticking. This workshop helps you define your family’s core values and create simple, meaningful traditions that bring everyone closer without adding pressure.
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7. Know your child may have physical symptoms.

Small children are not usually able to articulate stress in the same way adults are. It is for that reason that you may be inclined to see physical changes in your child during a big transition, and it is important to be able to recognize them.

Here are what you can watch for in young children:

  • Start sucking their thumb
  • Wet the bed if already potty trained
  • Talk baby talk or regression in talking ability
  • Cling to you constantly
  • Experience stomach aches or headaches
  • Have loss of appetite
  • Have sleep disruptions such as insomnia or night waking
  • Become shy, aggressive or act out

We stayed in temporary lodging for several weeks after arriving to Japan. After the first few nights, our son starting waking in the night and staying awake for several hours. He was very emotional during this time. One of the nights, he threw up while I was holding him and continued on and off for about an hour. He had no other symptoms, and we put him in the bath tub at 2 or 3 am, and he was truly the happiest puking kid I’ve ever seen. I’m going to bet his vomiting was actually a stress response. Another mom I know said both of her children vomited at least once and experienced headaches and tummy aches after the big move.

During big transitions, it is common for everything to culminate and affect our children in a physical way. The best way to deal with stress responses in children is to be present and supportive with changes, which is my next tip.

8. Be present and supportive with changes.

Moving is hard on everybody, but most especially young children. To children, moving is akin to having their entire world taken apart, which is literally what’s occurring. Offer frequent reassurance and TLC during this time. Make extra time for intentional play and quality time with your child. You may also need to do things you normally wouldn’t. A few nights my son fell asleep in my arms in bed with me. I had never allowed my son in my bed before, but it was the extra love and care he needed during that time. After a few nights, we transitioned back to our normal routine.

Major life changes are challenging and stressful. Small children look to us for guidance during tough times, and as parents, we can offer a lot of help to make the transition easier. Offer comfort through clear communication, a positive attitude, a good routine or schedule, and using words of affirmation. Lastly, remember that children are incredibly resilient little people. Often times, they are more capable than we could ever imagine.

 

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Helping Kids Before And

After A Move Guide from Ward North American

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Lauren Tamm Bio Picture

Lauren Tamm is a mother, military spouse, freelance writer, and the author of TheMilitaryWifeandMom.com. She is passionate about practical parenting, enjoying motherhood and navigating military life. She welcomes you to connect with her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!

Why Guilt Gets in the Way of Good Parenting and How to Avoid It

Good parenting does not revolve its decisions and processes around guilt. However, it’s very easy to get into some guilty thinking traps. Here’s how to avoid this issue altogether:

The cold hard fact remains, if you aren’t ever making your children mad, you’re bending over backwards to give them whatever they want.

Forbes says this,

“Your child does not have to love you every minute. Your kids will get over the disappointment, but they won’t get over the effects of being spoiled.

So tell them “no” or “not now,” and let them fight for what they really value and need.”

Since most mothers suffer from the guilt companion this can be tricky for us. There are situations in which we know we’ll disappoint our children, and that’s hard. I always want my children to be happy and smiling and cute. But you know what I’ve noticed?

When I start catering towards their moods, their moods becomes more volatile.

So, here are three ways to avoid the parent trap of guilt.

50+ Life Skills (By Age!)

Check off critical household, social, and hygiene skills for your child so they’re prepared (not petrified) of growing up!

1. Be firm on black and white issues. 

There will be certain behaviors in your home that are absolute no-gos.

  • Lying,
  • biting,
  • hitting,
  • slapping, or just plain ole’
  • meanness

…may fall into this category.

Once you’ve determined an appropriate consequences for these behaviors don’t be afraid to stick to them.

It may mean your child misses family dinner, an important event, or has to stay in their room for a while when everyone else is having fun.

Don’t let the guilt that they’re missing out take over your good sense.

Remind yourself they’re missing out because of their own choices.

2. Balance long and short-term thinking. 

I’m a long-term thinker so I tend to evaluate everything on how it affects the future.

One behavior is never isolated to me. You see, one behavior has the potential to become a bad habit that derails their life.

Dramatic I know, which is why I bounce things off my husband who is a short-term thinker.

For example: If you are entertaining house guests and your kids behave worse than normal, that week may not be the time to buckle down and get their behavior right again. In the short-term, it would make the week with family or friends less pleasant.

One week of abnormal routine won’t derail all the work you’ve put in previously. On the other hand, continuing a bad habit just because it makes life easier in the short-term (screen time every time you want them to leave you alone) will only prolong the situation and make it ultimately more difficult.

If you feel guilty for enforcing a negative consequence, think of the long-term benefits of good discipline and the long-term disadvantages of letting bad behavior go unchecked.

3. Don’t be manipulated by guilt or your kids.

Before anyone goes all “babies and toddlers and preschools are young and innocent they aren’t manipulating, they don’t know how” just hear me out…

Manipulation is basically acting in a certain way to get what you want, with malicious intent.

So, no, young children don’t usually manipulate out of bad morals or deceitfulness. They simply do what gets the results they want. A baby who cries because they know they’ll get held isn’t manipulating you, they are continuing a pattern that works for them.

Toddlers, preschoolers, younger children and most definitely teenagers learn to get what they want. As they grow up, they know what makes you feel guilty, makes you give in, and what lets them get away with things.

I want to encourage you when you’re fighting guilt because your kids feel deprived.

Family Rules Brainstorm SHEETS

Start brainstorming rules to make your family life more peaceful, connected, and strong!

You’re a good mom. You like seeing your children happy. We all do. It’s great to like doing nice things for your kids. You want what’s best for them.

But, it’s okay if they aren’t always happy. It’s okay if you follow through with a negative consequence. It’s okay when they don’t get everything they want.

Just as a good CEO shouldn’t feel guilty making decisions for the best of their company, a good mother can’t feel guilty when making decisions for the best of her children.

While you’re at it, read these other posts from this series:

Read: Time In Vs. Time Out … and is Time Out Damaging Kids?

Read These While You’re At It