Parenting and family stuff

I imagine some mythic women in floral dresses who simply slide into motherhood, goddesses unbothered by the smell of poop, at home in any damp cave. These are the “naturals”: the mom on a transatlantic flight handling three small children, or the unwashed breastfeeding mom who says she wouldn’t mind “another one.” But then there are others, such as... See more

“Parenting is a relationship. It’s not a set of strategies.”

Giving kids the agency to follow their own curiosity seems right for a lot of obvious reasons: it will make them happier, intrinsic motivation will fuel them to learn more, it keeps the youthful flame burning instead of extinguishing it with routine...But it’s also important for a less obvious reason, one that will be even more important as things... See more

Proponents of Positive Discipline believe that most misbehavior stems from mistaken beliefs or goals in a child’s attempt to achieve belonging and significance. He thinks that his belonging or significance has either been threatened or destroyed and he is acting in a way to remedy the situation. This may be because he lacks the knowledge or skills... See more

In short, good values have to be grown from the inside out. Attempts to short-circuit this process by dangling rewards in front of children are at best ineffective, and at worst counterproductive. Children are likely to become enthusiastic, lifelong learners as a result of being provided with an engaging curriculum; a safe, caring community in... See more