‘Connect’ with your children:
Spend time with them when they wake up, when they come in from school, at family meals, when they go to bed... It’s the intention and awareness that makes a difference... Even two minutes can provide “a dose of fulfilling connection”...
Parents set the rules:
“You’ll know when some negotiation is advisable and when it isn’t"...
Check your attitude: Instead of shouting or texting when it’s dinner time, walk up stairs and speak to them... If that requires more energy than you have, this is not an energy issue, but “an attitude issue”.... Don’t try to control.
Try to lead: If you find yourself always getting into a standoff with your child, “you’d better not force the issue, because you are just going to create conflict”... Don’t try to control... Work on rebuilding the relationship... Hold off giving your child a mobile phone for as long as possible...
Challenging behaviors are in fact “not behavioral problems, but a relationship problem”... Some of these mistakes are specific, such as using time out... Others include using a nagging, angry or cold voice, wielding adversarial discipline or neglecting to spend sufficient time with your children...
Speak nicely to your kids, treat them as you would any loved one, be ready with a hug, avoid overuse of your phone in their company, spend time with them, solicit their good intentions...
“We need to make a decision as to how much of that working life is essential and how much is discretionary.”... Even slivers of time help: a parent who comes home late can pop into a child’s room for a quick catch-up if they are awake...Don’t take rejections personally. You hang in there. You are wooing the child back into the relationship...