unnecessarywisdom
Natural parenting
Why You Should Lie to Your Kids
I’m a big fan of honesty in relationships. I especially like to be honest with my kids because I want to have a close and genuine bond with them for life. Good relationships are built on trust and, of course, that requires honesty. But I was recently asked if it was ever appropriate to lie … Continue reading
How I Know For a Fact That Children Are Not Morons
I’m still surprised and dismayed at the many articles and discourse I see online discussing whether or not children are just immature, sneaky, manipulative little creatures who require extensive breaking to become sufficiently molded to adapt to the human world. I’ve always operated on the concept that my kids are legitimate humans with real souls … Continue reading
How Attachment Parenting Produces Independent Kids
Children are in our care for a limited amount of time generally spanning two decades. During that time, their needs change drastically, yet gradually from year to year. I’ve always found it odd that the principles of attachment parenting are criticized as promoting dependence in children when, if you analyze the proper development of independence … Continue reading
Kid Confessions: But Daddy Never Says “No”
I hate telling my kids, “No.” I hate to see the disappointment. I hate the arguments. I hate the frustration. But, I do it anyway. “No,” is a necessary part of life, part of my job as a mother, and one of the words I use to establish limits and boundaries. I’ve always been extremely … Continue reading
The Difference Between Play and Entertainment and Why It Matters
Kids are born with natural curiosity about their world and the desire to explore and learn. They have a drive to touch, taste and feel everything around them. This is how they learn. This is also how they get into trouble and we often find ourselves stopping them, redirecting them or even punishing them for … Continue reading
Respect and Discipline: Can You Really Have Both?
I spent half my childhood in a home that practiced corporal punishment. My parents believed that children needed to be trained to be obedient and conform to expectations of the adult world. They also believed that bad behavior was a result of a sinful nature and they aggressively attempted to curb these supposed tendencies. I … Continue reading
Beyond the Labels: Parenting with Respect
There are a lot of parenting theories swirling around right now. I’ve found that I can relate to many of them and sort of fit with some of them. But I don’t really belong to any of them. I never found a group and followed along. And in searching for how or why I came … Continue reading
How My Toddler Tamed My Temper
I grew up around a stepfather who had an explosive temper. He would throw things, hit people, even toss us around the room. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. I swore I would never put up with that kind of behavior and I would never inflict such pain on anyone else. But I did have one … Continue reading
Apologies, Hugs and Secret Fears: The Attached Teenager
There is a lot of focus on attachment parenting in the early years of a child’s life. We know that we need to attend to our baby’s needs throughout the day and night. We ensure that our child feels safe and secure and that we are available. We are creating a strong bond. But as our … Continue reading
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