Comments for Parenting Today http://parentingtoday.ca Parenting Speaker Kathy Lynn offers parenting advice and parenting tips Mon, 07 May 2012 17:47:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Guidelines for offering kids choices by kathy http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/05/guidelines-for-offering-kids-choices/#comment-2486 kathy Mon, 07 May 2012 17:47:19 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=910#comment-2486 Thanks Vreni. I will talk to my tech folks and see why we can do. Thanks Vreni. I will talk to my tech folks and see why we can do.

]]> Comment on Guidelines for offering kids choices by Vreni Meier http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/05/guidelines-for-offering-kids-choices/#comment-2477 Vreni Meier Fri, 04 May 2012 03:58:15 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=910#comment-2477 Hello Kathy, I value your newletters. Would it b e possible to receive them in a larger print? Thank you very much. Vreni Hello Kathy, I value your newletters. Would it b e possible to receive them in a larger print?
Thank you very much.
Vreni

]]> Comment on You Can’t Make Me! How to Handle Power Struggles by Wendy McDonnell http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/04/you-cant-make-me-how-to-handle-power-struggles/#comment-2435 Wendy McDonnell Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:58:19 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=899#comment-2435 Nice. Thank you for the reminders to shake things up (do not shake people!) and get out of the win-lose argument. I'd also like to add a suggestion used in mediation and many communication strategies: hear the meaning and interests in the positions people take (our own and others). Often we argue over words and strategies. That is, the "how" we want to meet our needs. We can come to agreement and understanding more when we hear what is motivating us to say and do the things we do. What's important about ... ? If we're willing to stretch ourselves (ususally after taking a time out for a break or to cool down if we're enraged) and have curiosity about why we and others say and do what we do, we can unlock our creative power to co-create solutions that consider everyone's needs. Nice. Thank you for the reminders to shake things up (do not shake people!) and get out of the win-lose argument. I’d also like to add a suggestion used in mediation and many communication strategies: hear the meaning and interests in the positions people take (our own and others).
Often we argue over words and strategies. That is, the “how” we want to meet our needs.
We can come to agreement and understanding more when we hear what is motivating us to say and do the things we do. What’s important about … ?
If we’re willing to stretch ourselves (ususally after taking a time out for a break or to cool down if we’re enraged) and have curiosity about why we and others say and do what we do, we can unlock our creative power to co-create solutions that consider everyone’s needs.

]]> Comment on Children of Divorce Benefit from Connection with Both Parents by kathy http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/children-of-divorce-benefit-from-connection-with-both-parents/#comment-2063 kathy Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:39:46 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=863#comment-2063 Great thoughts and for Dads who have the technology, what a boon to communication with their kids. Great thoughts and for Dads who have the technology, what a boon to communication with their kids.

]]> Comment on Children of Divorce Benefit from Connection with Both Parents by Belinda Watts http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/children-of-divorce-benefit-from-connection-with-both-parents/#comment-2002 Belinda Watts Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:22:26 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=863#comment-2002 I just wanted to say that in the past there has been a lot of fathers who have been given the brunt end of the parenting deal, losing contact with their children, not given appropriate parenting rights, or continually having to fight to see their children. I am thrilled to see over the past few years, more and more fathers play a vital role in their children's lives, whether it be half custody, full custody or just spending as much time as possible being a part of the kids lives. Fathers have really stepped up to the plate, with a little more help, because the courts, judges, etc, actually realize how crucial it is to have both parents involved in a child's life. Way to go "Dad's" and never give up on your kids! I just wanted to say that in the past there has been a lot of fathers who have been given the brunt end of the parenting deal, losing contact with their children, not given appropriate parenting rights, or continually having to fight to see their children. I am thrilled to see over the past few years, more and more fathers play a vital role in their children’s lives, whether it be half custody, full custody or just spending as much time as possible being a part of the kids lives. Fathers have really stepped up to the plate, with a little more help, because the courts, judges, etc, actually realize how crucial it is to have both parents involved in a child’s life. Way to go “Dad’s” and never give up on your kids!

]]> Comment on Children of Divorce Benefit from Connection with Both Parents by Leah Davies http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/children-of-divorce-benefit-from-connection-with-both-parents/#comment-1994 Leah Davies Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:27:21 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=863#comment-1994 Kathy Lynn is right, asking direct questions is often ineffective, but giving the child a Kelly Bear Feelings book and you having one could serve to enhance your communcation and your relationship with your child. For sample pages, see: http://www.kellybear.com/MatBOOKS.html Kathy Lynn is right, asking direct questions is often ineffective, but giving the child a Kelly Bear Feelings book and you having one could serve to enhance your communcation and your relationship with your child. For sample pages, see: http://www.kellybear.com/MatBOOKS.html

]]> Comment on Children of Divorce Benefit from Connection with Both Parents by Bernadette Bradbury http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/children-of-divorce-benefit-from-connection-with-both-parents/#comment-1992 Bernadette Bradbury Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:42:39 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=863#comment-1992 A fantastic way to help particularly pre-K to Grade 2's with homework (and stay connected) is to set up Skype accounts on your webcam-equipped computer/laptop/smartphones. Skype allows to you to see and talk via internet for free, and has a function where you can take still pictures/screenshots. I travel for work, and my husband has to handle bedtime and homework for 3 rambunctious boys age 4, 6 and 8, alone when I am away. My 1st grade middle son gets his reading assignment for the day (they have to read a little book daily, rarely more than a few words/page, and rarely more than 10 pages), and holds up each page of the book for me to take screenshots, then he struggles through the reading and I am able to read along by clicking through the screenshots and correct as needed. This is often a 15-30 minute process, and keeps him occupied while my husband is dealing with the other 2 kids, so it is helpful for my husband and I love being involved across the miles. I have also read story books via Skype, and sung nursery rhymes to my youngest when he was a toddler to put him to sleep via speakerphone parked on his pillow, till I heard him breathing heavily and no longer responding to my periodic questions, then wait for my harried husband to return to the room and hang up the phone! Technology is wonderful! A fantastic way to help particularly pre-K to Grade 2′s with homework (and stay connected) is to set up Skype accounts on your webcam-equipped computer/laptop/smartphones. Skype allows to you to see and talk via internet for free, and has a function where you can take still pictures/screenshots. I travel for work, and my husband has to handle bedtime and homework for 3 rambunctious boys age 4, 6 and 8, alone when I am away. My 1st grade middle son gets his reading assignment for the day (they have to read a little book daily, rarely more than a few words/page, and rarely more than 10 pages), and holds up each page of the book for me to take screenshots, then he struggles through the reading and I am able to read along by clicking through the screenshots and correct as needed. This is often a 15-30 minute process, and keeps him occupied while my husband is dealing with the other 2 kids, so it is helpful for my husband and I love being involved across the miles. I have also read story books via Skype, and sung nursery rhymes to my youngest when he was a toddler to put him to sleep via speakerphone parked on his pillow, till I heard him breathing heavily and no longer responding to my periodic questions, then wait for my harried husband to return to the room and hang up the phone! Technology is wonderful!

]]> Comment on Children of Divorce Benefit from Connection with Both Parents by Eileen Reppenhagen http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/children-of-divorce-benefit-from-connection-with-both-parents/#comment-1991 Eileen Reppenhagen Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:33:28 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=863#comment-1991 These days with technology like Skype, or Google Talk, using the computer to communicate with the added benefits of a web-cam can make it like you're in the room, or you can work collaboratively too, as well as seeing each other, by using a variety of online tools. But of course that requires technology that may not be available to a newly divorced dad. These days with technology like Skype, or Google Talk, using the computer to communicate with the added benefits of a web-cam can make it like you’re in the room, or you can work collaboratively too, as well as seeing each other, by using a variety of online tools. But of course that requires technology that may not be available to a newly divorced dad.

]]> Comment on Are French Kids Better Socialized Than Ours? by Kathy http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/are-french-kids-better-socialized-than-ours/#comment-1921 Kathy Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:01:04 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=856#comment-1921 Great article! We run an online parenting course and one of our primary tenants is that kids should be treated as we want to be treated. I can't imagine going to a party and being told I would have to sit at a different table than the people I wanted to be with. Thanks for the article! Great article! We run an online parenting course and one of our primary tenants is that kids should be treated as we want to be treated. I can’t imagine going to a party and being told I would have to sit at a different table than the people I wanted to be with.

Thanks for the article!

]]> Comment on Are French Kids Better Socialized Than Ours? by Gigi Centaro http://parentingtoday.ca/2012/02/are-french-kids-better-socialized-than-ours/#comment-1914 Gigi Centaro Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:28:47 +0000 http://parentingtoday.ca/?p=856#comment-1914 Kathy, you are so right. I don't have children and because of my lack of experience I don't have a right to comment on how people raise their children, but I can, and do, observe. I've never fully understood why American parents cater so much to their children and European parents do not. My husband has relatives in Italy and I have visited them 11 times. I've eaten most of my meals in Italian homes and the children sit, eat and talk to the adults. They eat whatever is served without complaint and they stay and visit with the adults. Italian children have great manners and are very respectful of each other and adults. Kathy, you are so right. I don’t have children and because of my lack of experience I don’t have a right to comment on how people raise their children, but I can, and do, observe. I’ve never fully understood why American parents cater so much to their children and European parents do not. My husband has relatives in Italy and I have visited them 11 times. I’ve eaten most of my meals in Italian homes and the children sit, eat and talk to the adults. They eat whatever is served without complaint and they stay and visit with the adults. Italian children have great manners and are very respectful of each other and adults.

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