"My 13-year-old daughter's bedroom is a complete mess. It looks like a tornado just ripped through it. And when I ask her politely to clean it up, she either ignores me or throws a fit!" If this sounds like your child, you're not alone. Many parents who use the Empowering Parents coaching service complain about... Read more »
When I answered the phone, I heard the shrieks immediately. It was obvious that a child was having a nuclear meltdown on the other end of the line and the mother, exhausted and frantic, was calling parent coaching for help. As the mother tried to explain what was going on, I struggled to hear her... Read more »
It’s incredibly frustrating to deal with a child who refuses to take care of himself or herself—a child with bad hygiene. When our kids look bad and smell bad, we often see it as a reflection of our parenting. Indeed, a child's poor hygiene is embarrassing to their parents. We hear from many parents during... Read more »
Picture this scene: Your teen’s curfew is 11:30 p.m. and you stay up waiting for her. When she doesn’t come home on time, you pace and worry, your mood alternating between fear and anger. When your daughter finally waltzes in well past midnight, she disrupts everyone in the house and makes excuses when you ask,... Read more »
Have you ever heard someone talk about how well-behaved your child is and thought in disbelief, “Excuse me? Are you talking about my kid?” While we usually enjoy hearing good things about our children, being told that your child is an angel by others can be confusing and frustrating when she’s out of control at... Read more »
When your teen is angry and screaming at you, the temptation for many of us is to fight back and scream louder so you “win” the argument. But what does that do? It's natural to want to push back or stand up for yourself if someone pushes your buttons or provokes you in some way.... Read more »
You’ve probably heard these words of advice before: “Just walk away when your child is trying to pull you into a fight.” Kids argue with their parents all the time and, in many cases, it's tolerable and normal. But when your child becomes disrespectful, starts to yell or swear, or becomes irate and won't calm down,... Read more »
There are few things in the world that hurt a parent more than hearing their child say, "I hate you." The words cut like a knife. The child you love so much and have sacrificed for in so many ways now hates you. "I hate you, mom! I wish you were dead!" "You are the worst mom... Read more »
What causes bad child behavior? James Lehman says it happens because children don’t yet know how to solve problems effectively. To put it another way, they act out as an attempt to handle life's problems. And they continue to act out, frankly, because it's working for them. But here's the truth: If you don't help... Read more »
Kids can make it incredibly hard for adults to say “no,” whether your young child is having tantrums and acting out—or your teen has escalated to becoming verbally (or physically) abusive. Your child might also try to make you feel guilty to get his way, or he might act overly sweet and responsible, only to... Read more »