Bill Corbett

That's what one adult wrote in an online forum about the condition of parenting today, that "parents have lost their spine and kids now rule the roost." He went on to say, "The world is falling apart and it's all starting in the home. Gone are the days when parents were in charge and children knew their place. Parents no longer get the respect they deserve and kids aren't made to show it. What happened to the good 'ole days when parents had spines and kids behaved? The world didn't need parent educators back then; parents knew what to do and they did it." He's right that parenting has changed and to those who don't understand why, it probably does appear as if the world revolves around the child now. I don't agree that it really does, but I will agree that we do treat children differently these days then our parents and grandparents did. As in anything that requires developing skills, parenting requires new skills and knowledge th...

I met with a family this week for parent coaching. It's something I do on a regular basis and it is so fulfilling to be able to help bring a family together. But this one family this week was difficult for me. The parents spent a full hour giving me the gory details for their past, falling into bickering matches from time to time. I'm not sure I can help this family if they are not willing to move forward and not backwards. When you meet with a parent coach to help you with your children, set aside some time before the meeting to determine exactly what you want from your parent coach. Avoid thinking they are going to "save the day" and have all the answers for you. If you want immediate help and at the lowest cost, you have to do some work up front by drilling down through the issues to determine how they can help you the best. Fixing your past or fixing the other parent isn't part of their coaching. And if you're a parent coach, be ready to ask the ques...