Tag: Values

Look At That Lady’s Nose!

by Betsy on Aug.07, 2011, under Character traits, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Parenting, Toddlers

Young children notice difference. As they try to make sense of their world, they pay attention to regularity and irregularity, what is familiar and what is not. And there is no judgment involved, just recognition of difference. Truth be told, most people notice difference. It’s no big... Read more...

:Beliefs, Compassion, Gender Orientation, judgement, kindness, Parent as teacher, Parent bad behavior, Parenting, tolerance, Values 2 Comments

Should You Discipline Someone Else’s Child?

by Betsy on Apr.18, 2011, under Discipline, Parent modeling, Parenting, Peers, Safety

It’s hard enough to raise your own child—teaching him the rules of the road, guiding him as he learns how to “play nicely”—but what happens when a child who is not yours is in need of some pointed guidance (a swift kick in the pants, perhaps!)? You’re having... Read more...

:Beliefs, correcting someone else's child, disciplining someone else's child, Limits, Manners, Misbehavior, Modeling, Parent as teacher, parent bad behavoir, playdate, playdate rules, Values, when to intervene with another child 16 Comments

Roaring Back at the Tiger Mom

by Betsy on Jan.17, 2011, under Environmental influences, Expectations, Learning, Parenting

Was your parent one who asked, when you brought home an A-, “Why didn’t you get an A?” So many adults have a version of this tale to share. They have never forgotten it, twenty or thirty years later. Most children really do want their parents to be proud... Read more...

:Perfectionism, Pressure, Stress, Tiger Mother, Values 8 Comments

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

by Betsy on Dec.25, 2010, under Character traits, Holidays, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting

Every year my friend Freida gives me a surprising gift. Far out pop-up books, foodstuffs from the Homeboy Industries-Homegirl Catering and Kitchen, DVD’s of documentaries I might have missed. But this year’s is the best: Of Thee I Sing: A letter to my daughters by Barack Obama. I... Read more...

:Beliefs, Books, Christmas, family, family conversations, Family meals, Modeling, Parent as teacher, Reading, Values 1 Comment

Holiday Mistakes Parents Make

by Betsy on Dec.18, 2010, under Holidays, Parenting

How many ways can I help you to rebrand the holidays? I'll try one more time by sending you to watch the video I taped for Parents Ask. http://www.parentsask.com/ Tuck the ideas away, and enjoy the rest of this holiday for now. Then when all is said and... Read more...

:Chanukah, Christmas, gimmies, Rituals, traditions, Values Leave a Comment

Be the Person You Want Your Child to Be

by Betsy on Sep.21, 2010, under Character traits, Expectations, Learning, Parent modeling, Parenting

“You will not believe this story,” began the email from a client who had just returned from family services for the Jewish New Year. She described the mother and three children sitting next to her own family. “She was knitting!” (Yes, you read it correctly,... Read more...

:Character traits, Hypocrisy, Modeling, Parent as teacher, Parent bad behavior, Parent modeling, Parenting, Respect, Values Leave a Comment

Your Children Are Watching You!

by Betsy on Jul.19, 2010, under Communication, Environmental influences, Parent modeling, Parenting

“Coach Accused of Punching Son” The headline in the LA Times caught my eye. A youth baseball coach is facing a simple assault charge for punching his 9 year old son in the face after the boy was ejected from a game. Are they kidding? I read... Read more...

:Anger, Anger management, Parent bad behavior, Parenting, Respect, Values Leave a Comment

Bffs Rock!

by Betsy on Jun.25, 2010, under Adolescents, Child development, Parent modeling, Peers, Relationships, School

I just hung up the phone from my very own bff who was rushing to her mother’s hospital bedside in San Diego. Her world is falling apart. Loaded with her own issues of life and work and now her very ill mother, she needed to complain and... Read more...

:Best friends, BFF, bullying, Gossip, Modeling, social skills, Values 3 Comments

Doing the Right Thing

by Betsy on Jun.10, 2010, under Character traits, Child development, Parent modeling, Parenting

When I was pondering the Introduction to my new book, You’re Not the Boss of Me, it occurred to me that all I really needed to write was one sentence: Be the person you want your child to be. Four pages later, that didn’t happen. But I... Read more...

:Armando Galarraga, Bad choices, Disappointment, excuses, Feelings, Heroes, Jim Joyce, Mistakes, Modeling, Parenting, sportmanship, Values 1 Comment

Brats are not born

by Betsy on Apr.24, 2010, under Behavior, Brat-Proofing, Character traits, Communication, Parent modeling, Parenting

In response to my recent appearance on the Today Show – http://www.clicker.com/tv/today-show/Brat-proof-your-child-866570.html in case you missed it! — a woman wrote to tell me I was off base. She said that children are naturally brats and are naturally selfish. While I would not be quick to countradict this... Read more...

:Brat-Proofing, brats, Delaying gratification, Parenting, Selfishness, Values 3 Comments