Many parents struggle with how much information do you give your child about difficult situations. Parenting about honest communication is not always as easy as we think it might be.
I recently had to handle this challenge with my three year old daughter. We were visiting her grandfather when he was rushed to the hospital. The hospital visit ended with a leg amputation and me wondering what to tell my daughter. I could have told her that her grandpa was hurt and getting better, but I chose to tell her the truth and to allow her to react. I chose not to set any expectations of her reaction and to answer her questions with honesty.
I recently interviewed Dawn Grant on my radio show "Just Parenting About". We discussed how we can set fears and other emotions in our children just by the way we tell them something is going to happen. The example Dawn used was taking a small child to the doctor knowing they are going to receive a shot. Thinking of your past experience, you may want to try to comfort them and say something like, "This will only hurt a little bit". Now they have a fear going into the event.
I decided to tell my daughter that the doctor needed to take her grandfather's leg off. She was inquisative and asked many questions, but was not scared or uncomfortable with what was going on. It just seemed to be the way it was supposed to be to her. When she saw him for the first time, she asked questions and was not afraid. She was actually excited as one line of questions about how he was going to walk led her to learn that he would be in a wheel chair for awhile. She wanted to know if he would give her rides on his new vehicle!
What kind of challenges have you had to face and how did you handle the information? How did your child react? Your story may inspire someone when they have to face a similar challenge. I know I am grateful for the conversation I had with Dawn right before I was faced with this one!
Together, sharing our stories, we can be the parents we want to be! Here's to being a Passion Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
How do you handle questions from your child when they ask if you FEEL alright, when you are emotionally feeling anything but inspirational? It is a common question parents ask about dealing with children and emotions~ theirs and yours.
Children are so in tune with their emotions and easily pick up when you are out of balance. Esther Hicks, as Abraham, discusses this topic. Abraham says, “As a parent, the most valuable thing you can give to your child is an example of someone who knows about your own guidance system”. I love the reminder that we do not want to BE our children’s guidance, we want to be an example so they learn how to use their own guidance system!
Please leave your thoughts, questions and inspirations on this subject!
Here’s to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com “Where a Parent can be a Parent!”
I found myself in a conversation about toddlers and "not telling the truth" today with the mother of my daughter's friend. We were not talking so much about lying, as we were about our children not telling the truth.... is there a difference? I think so.
It seems they have temporarily figured out a way to get around upsetting us with something they have done by not telling the truth about it. I do not think at this stage they set out to lie, they just did not want to get in trouble or hear the disappointment in our voice. I can see this leading to lying though.
We discussed how they can tell by the tone in our voices when asking about the event that disapproval is sure to follow. We discussed finding new ways to approach the subject, less threatening, while still following through with disciplining any unwanted behaviors.
We also talked about the need to follow through on the consequences we have set for the unwanted behaviors. It is interesting how perceptive these toddlers are and how they know the consequence for their actions.... they seem to know if you will follow through with the stated timeout or trip home for their actions.
How do you deal with your toddler and not telling the truth?
How good are you at stating clear consequences for any unwanted behaviors? How good are you at following through?
Looking forward to your thoughts and inspirations!
Here's to being a Passion Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
Christine and Dawn Grant discuss how you can be an effective parent and make discipline a positive experience for both you and your child! Do you ever listen to yourself and think, “OMG! I sound just like my mother!”? This segment is for you! Click here to listen in to this week’s Blog Talk Radio segment and learn how to outline a plan on defining behavior you would like to change and creating the behavior you want!
Dawn Grant is a Mental Training Coach with success helping people from stopping smoking to winning an PGA tournament against the odds. After receiving her bachelors degree in Psychology, she realized a strong desire to help people make even more profound changes in their lives. She became a certified hypnotherapist and has had great success assisting PGA & LPGA greats like Vijay Singh, Laura Diaz, Will MacKenzie, Cameron Beckman, and Ted Burdy. You can connect with Dawn through her website at www.DawnGrant.com
Parenting about discipline can truly be the bonding experience you have been wanting with your child. Dawn speaks about how she is dicipling her daughter. Dawn’s daughter went from telling her how mean she was to realizing and telling Dawn that she now realizes her mother is a great mother and not as mean as she had thought.
Here’s to being a Passon Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com “Where a Parent can be a Parent!”
Looking back on my childhood, I now believe I may have been able to pay for my college tuition if I had a nickle for every time an adult asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Interesting!
I just read a great article by my friend, Debra H. She discusses what happened to her when she said 'in the moment', "Maybe I should be a dentist". That comment took on a life of it's own and became a major life lesson.
Please take a moment to read her article (Click here). There are many lessons I took from her honest account of this event in her life. One is to not 'should on yourself'. I was a master at saying I should do this and I should do that, continually setting myself up for failure and painting myself into boxes I did not want to be in. The second lesson that stood out for me was to allow your child to find their path. Encourage where they are in the moment, listen to what they are telling you, not what you want for them. Don't should all over your children!
Thank you Debra for sharing your life lessons.... by sharing we can all learn from each other!
Here's to being a Passion Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
I just watched the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America! I listened as President Elect Barak Obama spoke. I had chills run through me with pride, hope and the feeling we are on the brink of a new dawn.
There has been talk of change for many years, a rise in the consciousness of the Universe. I feel that change occurring over the past year more than ever. It gives me the hope and courage to raise my daughter in this day and age.
How do you feel about raising your children in these trying, yet exciting times? I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, and inspirations!
Here's to being a Passion Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
As a parent, you begin to realize that playing sports really teaches your children about life. Sure there are the benefits of playing sports like exercise leads to better health, sports helps mind activity and coordination and having fun is so important! As important, or perhaps MORE important, are the life skills learned on the playing field.
In a recent girl's high school basketball game, many life's lessons were played out. Interestingly, the parents and coaches show how important their role is in this education. Not only are the girls learning, but we as parents continue to grow, stretch and learn (if we remain open). The Covenant High School was beating the Dallas HS team by 59-0 at half-time. By the end of the game, the score was 100-0. Should the Covenant HS have let the clock play out at half-time and win by 59-0? Or should they have continued to play hard and do their best? How have the parents and fans of the Covenant HS have reacted? Should they have kept encouraging their team to embarrass the Dallas HS team? Interesting! So many ways to look at this situation, so many opportunities to explain how one can go through life with integrity, inspiration, and honor.
You can read what the outcome was of this particular game by clicking here. What I thought was so beautiful about this game is that people thought about it, they did something about it and the losing team had such an amazing outlook on the whole event!
From Associated Press At a shootaround Thursday, several Dallas Academy players said they were frustrated during the game but felt it was a learning opportunity. They also said they are excited about some of the attention they are receiving from the loss, including an invitation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.
"Even if you are losing, you might as well keep playing," said Shelby Hyatt, a freshman on the team. "Keep trying, and it's going to be OK."
Peloza said the coach and other parents praised the Dallas Academy girls afterward for limiting Covenant to 12 points in the fourth quarter. She added that neither her daughter nor her teammates seemed to dwell on the loss.
THE NETWORK: Rivals site for your state | National High School Message Board
Look for every opportunity to let your children teach you about life! Look for every opportunity to show them how they can be the best they can be with integrity, honor and passion! Parenting is often about finding the greatness in your child and helping them do it with honor.
Here's to being a Passion Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
Author Kelly Corrigan wrote this moving essay about women's remarkable capacity to suport each other, to laugh together, and to endure. The full text is available in the paperback edition of her memoir, The Middle Place. I am sharing a video of Kelly, because it reminds me how important it is to find those girlfriends who you can confide in. Those women who you have fun with, who you cry with and who come to know your soul. Remebering, being a parent is NOT all about the kids. You must feed you soul, take care of yourself to be the best parent you can be!
My wish for you is that you may have the amazing women and friends in your life like my mother did. The month before she passed, her good friend Karen Merriam threw a "Celebration Of Lori's Life" party. There were over a hundred people that showed up to celebrate with my mother and tell her how much she was loved and appreciated.
You can order Kelly's book, "The Middle Place" from Amazon.com
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com
"Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
Passion Parent and host of Just Parenting About BlogTalk Radio Show is excited to interview Josh Shipp this Friday, January 30 at 7:30pm!
Josh Shipp is dedicated to one thing: entertaining, inspiring, and empowering teens. He’s written books, shared the stage with Bill Cosby, appeared on MTV’s TRL, Comedy Central, NBC, FOX, TLC, and in the LA TIMES . And he’s already established an international reputation as an inspiring youth speaker with a simple and entertaining, yet challenging message. Josh has spoken to more than one million people about how his opportunities in life have made him who he is today. For over eight years, he has inspired, empowered, and entertained audiences all over the world. Josh’s ability to connect with the audience is a rare gift and is one you don’t want to miss.
You can sign into BlogTalk radio (click here) and have a reminder sent to your email... Your teens will have the opportunity to ask Josh their questions as well, so sign in earlier!
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com
"Where a parent can be a Parent!"
Are a teen or parent of a teen? You are going to want to tune in as Josh Shipp makes you laugh, makes you cry and answers those questions that are sticky... you know, teen challenges!
Josh was on MTV recently,
It's your turn to tune in, get inspired and get your questions answered! Josh will be on Passion Parent's BlogTalk Radio show this Friday, Jan 30 at 7:30pm EST(Click here to sign up for an email reminder!). We will have a half an hour of open mic for time to connect with Josh and ask advice!
You can connect with Josh on his website www.heyJosh.com You are gonna fall in love with this guy!
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
It is Friday, Jan 30 and I am preparing for my interview with Josh Shipp. I am excited to bring this episode to Passion Parent. Josh overcame enormous challenges in his younger years. Josh brings the wisdom and inspiration of how he survived to teens, letting them know that they have the choice to create the future they desire. Josh has inpired thousands of teens (and parents of teens). Let Josh inspire you today. He will be taking calls from the listeners for more than half of the show! Call in and ask Josh your questions!
This is the video that inspired me to connect with Josh. I am sure it will inspire you to tune in an meet Josh today!
I look forward to connecting with you today on the radio show where we will connecting with and inspiring you and your teens.
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
Have you asked you child to share, and then think that it didn't FEEL right? Maybe you shrug that feeling off... I mean all the other parents are telling their kids the same thing, right? Find out what I decided to tell my 3 year old about this common play ground/play date tussle (Click here for my thoughts).
I liked this article by parenting coach, Dawn Roth- You’re in the park and another child wants the toy your child is currently playing with. Quick, what would you do? Be honest, how many times have you encouraged, expected, begged, coerced or forced your child to share? Now ask, why you would do that? To save face, to impress the other parent, to teach your child to be nice or considerate?
Next question: would you lend your car keys, purse or husband to just anyone? Even your best friend would know to ask nicely and expect nothing. And some things are off limits. Period. So are adults really sharing in the way that we ask our kids to share? Not really. Yet the prevailing opinion is that sharing is good, being selfish is bad. So what can a thoughtful parent do?
Stop making kids share is a good start. If you want to teach consideration in a real world context, explore Trading as a replacement. Instead of insisting that one child arbitrarily loses some power by giving up a toy or a turn to another, ask them to find something of value to trade. When the deals start being made you have a whole new lesson to enjoy!
Kids who have trading skills have practiced finding things others will value, making powerful requests, accepting no as an answer, negotiating creative counter offers and finding a way to solve conflict without force. Not bad for a day at the park!
Start your trading coaching right now. To balance and include altruistic giving experiences for your child, get connected with a charity your family is passionate about. Share your love, not your toys!
How many times do we ask our children to do things we would never think of doing ourselves. What life lessons are you teaching your children on the playground without even knowing it? Are you requiring your child to give her or his power away, trying to look polite? Pay attention to those nagging feelings you have sometime when dealing with your child! If you feel like that may not have been the best way to handle a situation, tell you child! Be vulnerable and let them know that is very confusing. If you don’t have the answer, tell them, but stay true to the feeling you have- it is your guidance system. Unfortunately, there were no manuals that came with these little ones, and they are all different!
What experiences have you had at play dates that you wonder how you could have handled it better? Let’s share our experiences and learn from each other…. together we can be the best parents we can be! Please leave your questions, comments and inspirations!
Here's to being a Passion Parent! Christine Hiebel www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
What if you were able to 'wash away' any emotional or physical pain without the use of drugs, surgery or other invasive procedures? Would you give it a try at least?
What if the best way to communicate and connect with your child was by clearing your own pains, hang-ups, and static? Would you give it a try? Would you want to see more information?
I believe this tool, free to everyone, is one of the most power tools you can have as a parent! Take a look at the trailer for the movie "Try It On Everything!"
The movie features notables in a variety of fields, such as Jack Canfield (The Secret) Bruce Lipton (Best-Selling Author), Dr. Joe Mercola (Founder of the most popular natural health website on the internet), Carol Look (EFT Master) , Dr. Patricia Carrington (EFT Master), Bob Proctor (The Secret), Joe Vitale (The Secret), Cheryl Richardson (Best-Selling Author, Hay House) and more.
I recommend it highly, both for your own viewing and perhaps more importantly, to share this information with friends and family who might need it most. You can purchase the movie by clicking here.
One last thought- for every copy of the movie you buy, the creators of the movie donate one copy to a needy organization! So your purchase can help affect some serious change!
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com
"Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
OK parents, as if dating in your teens was not horrifying enough, now you have a teen asking you for advice! Problem solved~ let Josh Shipp answer the questions for you! LOL!
Okay, on the serious side... it is advisable to find a mentor for your teen around the age of 13. This is about the age that your teen is starting to go through the process of becoming independent. It is good for them to get information from someone YOU choose... they will naturally gravitate to another adult, you might want to be part of that process. The great thing is when their mentor/coach gives advice in alignment with what you have been saying!
This is not to say that you need to separate yourself or let yourself off the hook of guiding and parenting them, it is helpful to get someone they can talk to and, YEP- get a second opinion. This is a good life skill, they will use this in future relationships and the workforce! You can find more on Josh Shipp at www.heyjosh.com
Love to hear your thoughts, questions and inspirations!
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com
"Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
Many parents wonder about teaching their toddlers how to dial 911 in an emergency. Do you teach them and risk having them call 911 in a non-emergency? Watch this video and concider what would happen if this little five year old boy did not call! I can accept the odds that my daughter may call compared to the outcome if he had not called!
His father says he is proud of his son... heck, I am proud of him as well!
How about you? As a parent, how do you feel about teaching your child about emergency calls? If you have a health condition, have you discussed it with your child? Is talking to them honestly about these things worth the possibility of them being afraid of what could happen? Or is not talking to them and having a situation where they are unprepared worse?
I would love your thoughts, real life stories and questions. Your story may inspire someone and perhaps save a life!
Here's to being a Passion Parent!
Christine Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com
"Where a Parent can be a Parent!"
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