Teach Through Love

Reader — really quickly, are you following me on YouTube? You’ll get these video tips even faster when you subscribe. I've always tried to give my strong-willed child (now-young adult) agency over her life (while also keeping her safe). But keeping kids safe isn't just about teaching them “stranger danger.” And following the rules doesn’t only happen because “we say so." ”It's about showing kids how to trust in their body’s wisdom in everyday, ordinary moments. What if instead of constantly...

Reader— If you're a lifelong learner like me, your inbox is probably full of hard-to-pass-up offers. And I'm here to help simplify your life, not add to a noisy inbox. But I don't want today to go by without reminding you that Parenting Essentials closes tonight, 9/26 @midnight. 🎉 But Lori, I'm already overwhelmed! Do I have to listen to all of the information? It seems like a lot. Noooo, you're getting it all, so you don't have to feel like you are: Missing out on the full picture because of...

Reader— I could never have guessed that 18 years would fly by so quickly. I've tried my hardest (with lots of humble pie) to follow my heart and put our relationship over EVERYTHING else. Through all the tense moments, and there have been many (hello, high school, graduation, college), staying committed to her emotional health has rewarded me with something truly special. Our bond is stronger than the obstacles we face. I guess we're both stepping into something new, Reader. I'm navigating an...

Reader— Feeling judged.Taking it personally.Lashing out. We might feel guilty for how we react to our kids, especially when we're stressed out. I hated feeling like I was repeating the same cycle my parents did. But if you ever wrestle with the urge to snap, cave, or clamp down on your child's behavior... hey, GOOD news! You're a conscious parent. Noticing our own behavior is a huge first step to stopping our terrified inner child from parenting our kids. If you grew up with an iron fist...If...

Reader— This has been a long time coming. My energy for work has been very up and down. And it’s taken me a while to find my words, and these are definitely not all of my words.But it’s a start. (You can also watch a video version of this email here.) The once-a-year Parenting Essentials special was ending today (9/22), but I didn't feel right sending emails over the weekend when the world felt so heavy. So I'm extending our special through this week. If you've been meaning to find your inner...

Reader Even in our anger, what are we communicating? We might be asking ourselves these questions... How can we speak our minds without diluting our message with anger?How can we heal when so much in the world is deeply upsetting? What if we're triggered by our partner, who's triggered by the kids?How can we communicate our needs if we freeze and avoid conflict? If you're surrounded by old-school parenting, you might feel unsupported. Or you feel like all your hard work is being undone by...

Reader— If you're speaking with empathy, but it's still not working... maybe you're rushing to say the "right" thing (aka words to make your kids comply😬). Or maybe you can't think of the right words to say. Even though you've been watching, reading, and learning how to be more conscious for what seems like... FOREVER, something is missing. Why do you still feel so depleted?What if being "gentle" isn't enough (it isn't)? It might feel like the kids are running the show — in charge and making...

Reader, When you start offering parenting classes, some parents expect quick fixes for long-standing behavior struggles. They believe changing behavior will bring the results they really want: Inner calm Peace of mind Feeling respected Enjoying their kids But what they miss: Behavior is just the surface. What's really driving the conflict? Obedience is favored over emotional expression. Power-over instead of power-with communication is the norm. Family systems rooted in punitive force. Guilt...

Reader— I recently mentioned that it isn't "better behavior" that we're really after, and I wanted to explain what I meant (because I've been there too). Here's the difficult truth ➡️ We rarely feel better after correcting our kids' "bad" behavior. We're told to "nip it in the bud." Address it fast.Don't let them get away with it. But do you ever notice what happens after you do? The room might be quieter for a moment, but inside we still feel irritated, unseen, or flat-out exhausted. And...