Hand in Hand Parenting
I don't mean that a child needs two parents, or that co-parents need to be on the same parenting page. But that as parents we need other parents around us, to support US. I feel lucky that I still love, and more importantly, LIKE the man I co-parent with. I'm married to him and largely … Continue reading We’re Not Supposed to Parent Alone!
We were doing ok, my two sons, my husband and I. We had our share of struggles. The sibling arguments, the universal family struggles of getting the kids out of the door on time. The dragged-out, seemingly never-ending bedtime battles. No huge issues. But SURELY family life could be better than mildly (or hugely) irritating? … Continue reading Surely Family Life (and Bedtimes) Shouldn’t be Such A Struggle!
Our children can be anxious about so many things, and it can be painful to watch. We don't need all our children to demand the attention of a room, or be the first to try out something new. We don't need all our children to be the first to pet a dog, or hold a … Continue reading Free Class – Your Anxious Child
Parenting is HARD. Not always, but often. It's complex, demanding, often undervalued. Sometimes it feels relentless. When our children are struggling they show us. They signal us in unique and varied ways. Tantrums? Aggression? Anxiety? Rigidity? Non-cooperation? Sibling Rivalry? Sleep Troubles? Picky Eating? Sometimes it's US that are struggling. WE feel overwhelmed, anxious, angry, frustrated. … Continue reading Getting the Support We ALL Need
If you have ever worked with me personally, or seen any of my webinars, it's likely that I will have gone on and on about Listening Partnerships. Well, I'm going to go on about them again! Because they have not only changed my parenting, they have changed my life! If you have ever tried listening … Continue reading Getting Listening Support Makes All The Difference
(First published on http://www.handinhandparenting.org) Those of us who know the power in expressing all of our feelings feel differently about crying. Instead of shutting down crying, we welcome the tears. When those of us in the know get together, we might be overheard excitedly exclaiming “Oh, they had a brilliant, long cry this morning!” with … Continue reading HELP! My CHild Won’t Let Me Staylisten… What Can I Do?
I really haven't known what I've wanted to say for nearly the whole of lockdown. Every time I have thought I might have something I might like to share, the following week has turned my head and I've felt entirely different, leaving me feeling like a complete fraud for the previous week's mood. At one … Continue reading Being Listened to Gives us Space to Think.
“Go away! I hate you!” Never a nice thing to hear. Especially screamed. Loudly. In a public place. Sometimes I think my life can be split into before Hand in Hand Parenting, and after. Like driving to new locations using an unwieldy paper map and then discovering satellite navigation. Before I learnt some good information … Continue reading Turning “I hate you!” around.
My boys cry. Not that much of a big deal, maybe. Except that for a long time I tried to make it stop. At times, I down right didn’t allow it. It's not nice to admit but it was the effect it sometimes had on me. Physically. Some crying used to pierce my ears, like … Continue reading Listening to Emotions Can Be Hard.
“Mum, I think Charlie must have had a really big cry!” As my 7-year-old, Charlie and myself had all been together in the garden for the past 20 minutes and Charlie HADN’T cried I was a bit confused. “What do you mean Jimmy?” “Well, Charlie seems all…light.” “Light?” Oddly, I do sometimes use that phrase … Continue reading Connecting With Kids: from laughter to lightness
Katy Linsley 