It Worked Like a Charm

  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I have  been reading and re-reading the information you’ve sent me and last night I had  an opportunity to use it.  It worked like a charm!! My teenage niece was  arguing with me.   There was no end in sight. Then I said: “Love you too much to argue.” [...]

I’m Not Going to Karate Class

Jennifer shares her story of using cooperation skills with her pre-teen… My  12 year old daughter didn’t want to go to Karate class.  She protested and complained and I responded with my brain dead mantra “I know,” and my empathetic “Bummer that you’re not feeling up to it today – sometimes that happens.” All the way [...]

But I Don’t Want To….

We were heading to Karate class when my 12 year old daughter announced that she didn’t want to go to Karate class.  She protested and complained and I responded with my brain dead mantra “I know,” and “Bummer that you’re not feeling up to it today – sometimes that happens…” All the way to the [...]

45 Minute Teen Shower

Story shared with me at the Colorado PTA convention: My teenage daughter was taking 45 minute showers.  I’d yell and scream at her that she was wasting water.  I’d lecture that her showers were too long and nothing detered her. Finally, I decided to replace action with threats and said “Sweetie, you get 15 minutes [...]

How to Stay Calm When Your Kid Says, “I Hate You!”

Amy shares how using her new parenting skills were effective in dealing with her son…. My 12 year old son, Matthew, had been treating his younger sister poorly by ignoring her and talking down to her.  After setting a limit on his behavior, I had to send him to his room.   I used my empathy [...]

Energy Drain for Teachers

Shared by Neal, and 8th grade art teacher. I am using the “Energy Drain” with my 8th grade students.  Today a bunch of them were kept after class.  “You know you guys, when I have to babysit you and take care of you one on one, it drains energy from me.  I can’t focus or [...]

Encouragement from a Love and Logic Parent

We began Love and Logic long long time ago. My kids are teen teachers at our church for religious ed classes. Abby(15) is a teen teacher for the kinders and Andrew (13) is a teen teacher for 3rd grade. It is quite the rowdy group of kids, and last night the head of religious ed took [...]

I’ll be Happy to Wake You at 8 AM”

Lexie, a 16 year old, was to unload the dishwasher every day.  Mom would leave the dishwasher door open so she would have to trip over it to get out the door.  Mom would ask her when she was going to get it done.  “I’ll do it later,” was her reply.  Mom decided to implement [...]

Watchers or Doers

Originally published 1/25/06 by the Love and Logic® Institute. What does your child ask when bored? Is it, “I’m bored. What can I do?” or is it, “I’m bored. What can I watch?” If it is the latter, you are raising a future watcher, not a future doer. And if this is the case, my [...]

“Did You Do Drugs?”

Originally published 2/22/06 by the Love and Logic® Institute. “Hey, Dad. Did you and Mom do drugs when you were young?” Look out, parents! This is not a simple childhood question. This is a kid looking for some leverage and a way to get some tacit approval for drug use. This is a kid looking [...]

You Don’t Need to Apologize

Originally published 1/31/07 by the Love and Logic® Institute. After several discussions about the dangers of giving out any personal information on the Internet, Mom designed her own secret email address pretending to be an older boy. To her amazement she was able to contact her own daughter, who not only gave out her personal [...]

A Great Reminder

Originally published 11/16/05 by the Love and Logic® Institute. This week’s tip comes in the form of a note we received from Larry Anderson, who works in the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Dear Jim, Your article in the July issue of the Love and Logic Journal, Immune From Responsibility, is on the mark! I have [...]

Some Thoughts on Parenting With Words

Originally published 12/14/05 by the Love and Logic® Institute. Those familiar with Love and Logic know that we’re big on kids learning life’s critical lessons by making lots of affordable mistakes and experiencing the affordable consequences of such mistakes. We’re not so big on trying to teach important lessons through lectures…or lots of words. The [...]

“Why Won’t You Let Me?”

 Originally published 4/28/06 by the Love and Logic® Institute. It might be comforting to know that you don’t have to be able to provide a good reason for saying no to your kids. Our kids are not our supervisors. If something doesn’t feel right to you, that’s a good enough reason to say no. The [...]