In my experience how you ask for something is just as important as what you ask for. Often times we take on a demanding tone with our children versus an asking tone with other adults. Why? In this quick video I share several examples of the difference and how I believe it changes the responses we receive from our children while creating an more calm environment. It has also been in my experience that many frustrations can be avoided simply by being a more effective communicator.

I was delighted to be a returning guest on the Ally's Attic Radio Show last week to talk about my new book. Often times I am asked if I wanted to be an author. The answer: NO. I never did. But I was called to write this book. I know what it's like to feel like your home is in free fall every single day. Your child is angry, depressed, throwing tantrums, screaming, fighting, panicking. It's awful. It's lonely.

Over two years ago, God called me to write this book. Often I wondered, why me? I never had a desire to become an author. I was a poor grammarian in school, and it's still not my thing. Maybe because He knows I am loud, or not afraid to share our story. There is a teacher in me, and the desire to help whoever I can. 

A couple of weeks ago, we went to our local amusement park for the day. The weather was beautiful and we were excited. This was the first time Munchkin would have an opportunity to try out some of the bigger roller coasters and rides. My husband and I treated it like a massive experiment. We had no idea how she would respond to the noise, the rides, the crowds, etc. We went in with ZERO expectations of what rides we were going to try. We let Munchkin lead the way.

Do you ever feel like the "odd" Mom out? The one Mom who if you're there in the neighborhood group, great; but if not, no big deal.  The Mom who has to sit out at meetings with your child because they won't cooperate and let you leave their side? The Mom who has to be ready to leave at a moments notice, because of an impending emotional or behavioral situation. The Mom who can't stay out late because her child needs to stay on schedule, or pay the penalty when their child is up at 4am? 

I know I do. 

We scroll through Facebook or Instagram seeing little snippets of other peoples lives and they can look perfect. NEWS FLASH...we are all a bunch of hot messes just trying to survive. Everyone's behind the scenes has ugly parts, but we do our best to hide them. WHY? That's where the truth and real is happening. We have to stop striving for fake lives. Let's all agree that real life is messy, random, crazy, & beautiful.

All to often we, as Parents, think we know the best path for our kids. WRONG!!!! We have to remember that this life is their journey...not ours. So, get out of their way and watch them be compassionate, passionate beings that will surprise us while changing the world. 

In this video I share a personal story about how I almost screwed up and said no to real passion over an injured baby bird. 

The other day I posted the article, “Remember to Just Breathe Mommas.” (You can read it by clinking on the link) In that post, I described how miserable I was feeling as I watched my family continuously zone out into our screens. There we were, sitting, scrolling, staring, (in some case all three), like mindless zombies addicted to the shiny bright blue light. It sickened me.

This parenting thing is really, really, REALLY hard. There are days it simply takes you to your knees; having us beg for mercy. It's in those times where I have cried forever, been madder than Hell, and more frustrated then ever. Those are also the times I need the most love and support. I put together this gallery of uplifting & inspirational sayings to help us all through those moments. These are my favorites and the ones I have scrolling over my desktop. Many of them I have printed and hung on my walls. I hope you find them encouraging too!

Yesterday I had one of those days where my spirit felt heavy. Everything seemed more cumbersome than usual. I was sharp and short with my responses. I apologized for it more than once. My mind felt like a spinning top, racing in the fog I couldn't make sense of what it was trying to say.