The Parenting Mentor

Rachel is struggling to get her kids up and out of the house in the mornings. In particular, her 5-year-old daughter resists putting her hair up, a task that will make it easier to do small tasks and projects and stop her from chewing on it. Rachel is looking for ways to convince her daughter that putting her hair up in the morning is good for her. Today, we talk about what's behind the resistance...

Jessica has two boys--10 and almost 13. She wants them to take real ownership of their responsibilities, such as being on time for the bus, getting their homework done, and following rules around screen times. She's looking for strategies to help her so that she doesn't have to play the role of the warden. Today, we talk about how Jessica can begin to step back and give her sons more independence....

Danila has four kids, ages 6, 4, 2.5, and 4 months. They're navigating the pandemic fairly well, but given the special circumstances, she wants her family to do even better. She is looking for tips to teach her kids collaboration, instruction following, and constructive listening. She emphasizes the importance of instilling the idea that they're all part of a community and need to do their part. T...

Rashmi has a 5-month-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, Maya. She'd like some advice to help her daughter navigate the mixed feelings she's having about her new sibling. She's also looking for ways to be more patient with her daughter and give her some relaxed one-on-one time. Today, we talk about what Rashmi can do about the situation. I note that her daughter shouldn't feel like she needs to hel...

Shannon has a 6-year-old and an almost-8-year-old who are struggling with burnout from distance learning. Shannon is a very busy business owner, and as a result, her children have developed a disproportionate sense of independence. They are often verbally, and even sometimes physically, defiant. Today, we talk about what's behind this behavior. We talk about the power of quality time coupled with...

Marissa is a working mom, and with all of the struggles that come with that, she is having trouble setting boundaries for her kids while remaining a fun mom. In particular, she is looking to cut down on her 6-year-old son's screen time without feeling like a dictator. Today, I share some tips with Marissa. We talk about the power of having clear, defined rules around screen time, and I note the im...

Kanika is a mom of three kids, two of whom are twins. With three children so close in age, she has always struggled to keep them in order, but lately the twins (who are 4 years old) have gotten so out of control that she often has to resort to bribing and threatening to get them to cooperate. This especially comes up when it's time to get out the door in the morning. Kanika is looking for alternat...

Nyeesha's oldest daughter is having difficulty expressing self-love when it comes to her appearance and her accomplishments as a 20-year old. Nyeesha's daughter started having body image concerns while growing up in LA, where there is already more focus on body type, skin complexion, and weight loss. While they have worked through these issues before, Nyeesha wants to make sure she can continue to...

Erin struggles to get her three kids off to school without any drama. Specifically, her 3-year-old son has been having tantrums about getting dressed, and that's affecting everyone's morning. She's looking to find the balance between validating his feelings and getting everyone out the door. Today, we talk about how Erin can make the mornings less stressful for everyone. We talk about the power of...

Kristjana has three kids. The second used to be a great sleeper, but since moving to a toddler bed, his sleep is much more sporadic, and bedtime often results in tears and fighting. Kristjana just wants a good night's sleep for her son and herself. Today, we talk about how Kristjana can make the most of bedtime and let her son know that she wants to be with him and that he's always welcome to join...

JJ is concerned about his 9-year-old daughter and 11-year-old  son, who lost interest in sports teams during covid. JJ is worried that his children won't get enough physical activity or social interaction, which can provide important life skills. Today, I talk with JJ about each of these aspects--physical and social--and we discuss alternative ways that his children can gain these skills. I note t...

Jill's 6-year-old daughter just won't listen. And to add to that, when voices get raised even just a little, she hears yelling and the situation spirals. Jill is looking for ways to improve the situation for everyone. Today, we talk about how to talk so your child actually hears what you're saying. We discuss the power of kitchen timers and why it helps to use "and" instead of "but". I note the im...

Bethany is a busy mom of two boys, ages 5 and 9. She's a small business owner and runs some side hustles. Between her many obligations, she struggles to be present with her children while honoring her work commitments and staying true to herself. In addition, she's looking for ways to minimize roughhousing, which tends to persist until one of the boys gets hurt. Today, we begin by noting that Beth...

Alexandria is a single mother, small business owner, and professor trying to maneuver the pandemic with her 16-year-old daughter. Her daughter is struggling with anxiety about the everyday struggles of tenth grade in a pandemic. Alexandria is struggling to help her daughter, who often doesn't want to hear her advice. Today, we talk about the struggles of raising a teenager. We talk about what's be...

Marissa has a 15-year-old daughter, and even though they spend most of their time physically together as Marissa does her virtual work as a lawyer and her daughter does her virtual school, they don't get much quality time together. Marissa's daughter often wants to tell her something, but Marissa tends to be too busy to hear it in the moment. Marissa is looking for ways to let her daughter know th...

Nidhi has three kids under the age of 4, and they're all very close in age. The oldest has a feeding tube, and she's recently moved to her younger sister's bedroom. In a new room and a new bed, she regularly wakes up scared and runs to her parents' room screaming. Nidhi is looking for ways to let her daughter know that she's safe in her new room. Today, we talk about how Nidhi can help her daughte...

Christina has two kids with a third on the way, and in addition to worrying about how she'll be able to give all three the attention they need once the new baby is born, she's having trouble with tantrums. Both of her kids tend to throw tantrums when they don't get what they want. Christina is looking for ways both to preemptively prevent tantrums and to handle them when they happen. Today, we tal...

Stephanie has three kids--13 months, 2.5 years, and 5 years old--and they're in a constant battle of sibling rivalry. Stephanie, who is constantly hearing their fighting and yelling, is fed up with everything turning into an argument, and she's looking for strategies to instill more peace in the house. Today, we talk about what sibling rivalry really is and discuss what Stephanie can and can't do...

During the pandemic, Danielle has focused on prioritizing her parenting life. Now, 10 months in, she's exhausted, and it has a lot to do with how little sleep she's getting. Her 3.5-year-old son wakes her up in the middle of the night and her 16-month-old daughter is used to a nighttime bottle feeding. Between the two of them, Danielle is struggling with sleep deprivation and the resulting exhaust...

Stephanie and Sebastian are struggling with their 7-year-old daughter Heidi, who's having a hard time coping with the birth and presence of her younger brother Lucas. Since Lucas was born, Heidi has become difficult, aggressive, and prone to violent temper tantrums. Stephanie and Sebastian are looking for ways to help Heidi understand that they still love her as much as ever. Today, we talk about...

Reena's 17-year-old daughter is only home for another year before she leaves for college, and Reena is looking for strategies to give her more freedom and less direction. Reena knows theoretically that this is the right thing to do, but she's struggling to feel comfortable doing it. Today, we talk about this universal parenting stage. I note that, often, kids come back, so to let go of the leash i...

Jenny's trying to reconcile her guilt from having a second child with the need to overcompensate with her first. I help with a new perspective and some strategies to help her firstborn manage her own anger and frustration with sharing Mommy. Today, we talk about the value of validating your children's feelings. I note that you can still have an intimate connection with your first child after your...

Mark has two boys in their 20s. His 21-year-old is taking a very different life path than Mark had expected, and Mark is looking for tips for parents to get comfortable accepting their children's decisions. Today, we talk about this parenting skill. We discuss the importance of recognizing that our kids are who they are regardless of us, and of being guides and observers as opposed to engineers. W...

Aliza wants to be more comfortable with the different parenting styles and roles that her children are encountering. Additionally, Aliza recognizes that her "more reactive" style is allowing her kids to take control of situations that quickly lead to meltdowns. How can Aliza reduce her "more reactive" style of parenting and be open to other methods? Today, I talk with Aliza about why we should be...

Mary's four-year-old son Sawyer is constantly interrupting. Even though he has been taught ways to do so politely, his interruptions are no less distracting. How can Mary lovingly let him know both that he is a priority for her and that he needs to wait his turn? Today, I talk with Mary about what is likely behind Sawyer's behavior. We talk about his want to be included and prioritized, and we tal...