InfoGuide4Parents.com

Because your child spends many of his waking hours in school and in school-related activities, time spent in school plays a big part in his life and significantly impacts his development as a person. He probably spends more time at school than he does with you. Because of this, it is important you use the time you have with him to the maximum benefit and focus your attention on nurturing his emotional wholeness.

Self-confidence means different things to different people. Some believe self-confidence is a “can-do” attitude that shows no vulnerability, uncertainty, or self-doubt. They believe one simply goes out and gets things done without regard to how she feels. Others say true self-confidence means you can be honest and show your vulnerability and still be confident. They believe that if you’re truly confident, you don’t need to hide your vulnerability and your humanness.

Definitions of self-confidence I found on Wikipedia include self-assuredness in one’s personal judgment, ability, power, sometimes manifested excessively; self-esteem; a measure of belief in one’s own abilities; self-acceptance.

One of the most important tools you need as a parent or educator is to understand who children are and what they need from you in order to be happy and successful. Most likely the tools you have are based on the conventional wisdom of our culture and how you were raised. You may want to do what your parents did or be determined not to repeat some of their mistakes.

You may believe you will be a good parent or educator if you follow the conventional wisdom of our times. You may believe that if most parents or educators you know are using certain strategies and approaches with their child and students, you may decide it is the best and correct thing to do.

Parents and educators who come to me for coaching feel unclear how to handle repetitive troubling behaviors and challenges with their child. They don’t know how to effectively respond to these situations in order to best help their child. They feel confused about how to evaluate their child’s behavior. What behaviors are warning signs of a child in trouble and what are simply part of a child growing up?

Many troubling patterns appear to be normal child development because we see them frequently in children of similar ages. Parents struggle with issues and challenges that appear to be similar to those other parents’ experience. These frustrating challenges can appear to be part of normal child development.

I often see parents and educators struggle to know the right way to handle a challenging situation. They look at me and ask, “What’s the right thing to do?”

Every parent and educator knows this question, and we often turn to others or to books to learn the right thing. We think there is a right answer, and we feel compelled to find it so we can do the right thing.

What if I were to tell you there is no right way. The “right way” does not exist. The “right way” is only what’s right for that person in that situation and with that child and cannot be applied to everyone.