LET'S GET HAPPY!  Please note, you do NOT have to be a parent to benefit from this episode. : ).   Mental health is theee most important aspect of our lives. If you know you aren't living at your happiest level; take a listen and embark with me on a personal course to improve your state of mind.   Come on, give it a try. Make your happiness a priority.   This is Part I.  Part II coming soon....

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There are so many negative influences around us. How can I affect my child (or adults around me) for good?   To answer this question, I gathered stories from people and compiled my favorites in this podcast episode.   The question is answered most clearly by actual people, not necessarily a book, or website (it is 2021, sorry, duh).   What positive experiences with an adult have you had that you carry with you still, to this day?  Feel free to share them with us on instagram at parentingaaah or email at parentingaaah@yahoo.com.  Much love!

With an enormous amount of sweets, cheap toys, and easily accessible EVERYTHING MATERIALISTIC, it's become difficult to navigate giving to our children without "spoiling" them.   What is spoiling anyway?  Is being loving all the time, the same thing as spoiling? In this episode, Rebecca discusses her findings on what makes a child actually act spoiled based on interactions with hundreds of students over the past 15 years.   Follow the podcast and Rebecca on instagram at parentingaaah. 

Constipation?!!?   Why a whole episode on this?  Well... let me tell you, if your child has this problem its a BIG, upsetting, worrying deal.   I have talked to many parents who have this issue with their child and I think it is not discussed enough.  My daughter has had chronic constipation issues since she was a wee baby and when I asked doctors for help with it, I was brushed off several times.  Chronic constipation is a painful, stressful ailment and affects your daily life.   I deem it- the ignored epidemic- because so many kids suffer from it yet it is not given a lot of press. Not many people want to address this crappy topic, actually not crappy, thats the problem.   Here are my food guidelines that have worked for my children as well as the story of our experience trying to get medical help for my daughter. ps. The guidelines work for adults too.  

When you are tired, overworked, and running on little sleep its easy to fall into a habit of feeling angry almost all the time.  Kids are learning to regulate their emotions, behavioral boundaries, and pretty much everything else- that's what being a kid is, right? Learning. They are going to make mistakes and test boundaries, as adults do, but far more often.  Our approach to their behavior does not need to be always angry.   Being angry doesn't help their understanding, and it doesn't help you either.   You CAN approach negative behaviors with Less Yelling and Less Anger.  Join our parent group on instagram or Twitter at @parentingaaah

One of the absolutely, positively MOST important qualities that you can encourage in your child (or any child that you know or work with) is high self-esteem.  A deep feeling of confidence and self-esteem will last a lifetime and help a child weather life's storms with the strength to keep going.   Helping a child develop self-esteem does not need to be a grand, extravagant gesture. More effective are frequent small words, actions, and experiences that encourage positive feelings and real confidence.  In Rebecca's not-too-serious but still informative tone, she gives loads of ideas to adults for ways that they can help children feel more confident and develop self-esteem to last.  Spread the positivity.  

Follow us on Instagram or Twitter at parentingaaah.   Email with questions or topic ideas to parentingaaah@yahoo.com or leave a voicemail at 650-880-1155.

At some point ALL children need support to learn a task or follow a routine.  Cleaning up their toys, getting dressed in the morning, or braving anxiety to enter their classroom are just a few examples of tasks that may require coaching for children with OR without special needs.  Even an older child may need support (but not rescuing) to complete a complex chore like cleaning up a really messy room.  Sometimes children act out with tantrums or other negative behaviors when faced with tasks that overwhelm them.  These tasks can be broken down and simplified with the help of social stories.  With routine building and positive reinforcement you can coach your child through a learning a routine and help them along the road to independent task completion.   

Rebecca puts a fun spin on her useful tips.   You may hear something that you want to try, have a laugh, or at least know you aren't alone in your parenting challenges.   Drop Rebecca a line at parentingaaah@yahoo.com or leave a message on our voicemail line (650)880-1155.  Follow us on Instagram or Twitter at parentingaaah.  Stay positive!!  

Discussing the topic of racism with your kids or students can be daunting.  In this special episode of the podcast, Parenting Aaah!, Rebecca and her guest, Ms. L.T., share approaches for discussing the current issues of racism and the Black Lives Matter movement in the U.S. with children.  Ms. L.T. is an accomplished educator and dedicated mother who candidly shares her perspective as a black parent and teacher in America.  

If you have ideas or questions for future episodes please contact us at parentingaaah@yahoo.com, leave a voicemail at (650) 880-1155, or follow us on Instagram or Twitter at parentingaaah.