Drive Through Parenting Wisdom

Happy Halloween! CARTOON Metaphor for Parenting Teens

Can you relate? It all starts very quietly with their being embarrassed about the way you laugh, dress, walk, breathe or any of the above.  It is all down hill from there.  And it is all normal and to be expected.   This is the beginning of the breaking away that has to happen for them to eventually fly away from us.  And sometimes I think it happens this way so we don't miss them so much when they go!  Quick leave now while you know all the answers... They do come back to you in the twenties, hopefully, after some time away, life experiences, brain development and just plain old growing up.  At some point they do once again see that maybe you do know something and have some worth...  Though initially painful, with the right attitude it can be humorous...  Some people think breaking away starts the minute they are born...  What do you think?

A good old challenge for parents of teens and older children: 

Ask yourself:

• Where am I treating my older child like they are still small?
• What rules are no longer working?
• What new perspectives are calling out to you as a parents of an older child?
• Think of your biggest challenge with your older child...  where can you let go and let the learning begin?

Remember... the best parenting takes place when you are asking the right questions!

Sending my best to you,

Anne

PS  Would you like a book that is dedicated to and actually full of the right questions for parents of teen:

GRACE for parents of teens 5 Steps For Bringing Your Best To The Next Moment 

Dog Speak... CARTOON A Metaphor for Parenting Teens

Poop Happens... CARTOON

Poop happens...  Sure does. 

Parenting teens is like an extreme sport...  A new sport for the Olympics:  Extreme Parenting

How does your parenting perspective  change if you accept "poop happens" as part of this?

How does your parenting perspective change if you do not accept that "poop happens"?

How will accepting that "it happens" help you to move from reacting to situations to responding instead?

What does all of this mean?

Contact me for coaching or speaking...  Here is a short bio of who I am:

I am a certified Life Coach, Author and Speaker.  In addition to my 3 books and a CD, I present workshops, retreats, tele-classes and seminars designed to deepen the learning through lecture and experiential participation.  My presentations are interactive, energizing, educational and tailored to suit the group need.  It has taken me 52 years to make the best chicken soup on the planet…  and endless ballroom dance lessons to finally stop trying to lead and actually enjoy following.

And I would love to work with you as your coach or speak to one of your favorite groups about "Extreme Parenting".

Contact:  abjcoach@comcast.net

Ciao,

Anne

DOG RAP... Cartoon for Parents of Teens

Do you ever wonder how the teen culture got to this point today?  I do.  And then other days I think it is so similar to what I was doing when I was a teen but it just looks different...  Maybe so.

No matter what, there is a a lot that I cannot relate to.  It sure does help when I can laugh...

What makes you laugh about your teen and their world?

What makes your teen laugh about your world?

What can you do together with your teen where you can share a laugh and laugh out loud?

I would love to know...

Ciao,

Anne

Crossing the LINE!... CARTOON Metaphor For Parents

Sitting at the beach watching the young parents watching their young kids gets me nostalgic AND at the same time very happy that I am not chasing little ones.  I do remember the feeling of comfort knowing I could scoop my little one up if there was a need...  Well those days are gone.

Some times, I wish I "had a handle on them" both literally and figuratively.  And then that parenting paradox kicks in with, "Hey, this is theirs to figure out." 

Remember, you can't slay anyone else's dragons...

Some questions for you to think about with parenting your teen:

• What handle am I holding that needs to be let go of?
• What handle am I holding that belongs to some one else?
• What is the worst thing that will happen if I let go?

Got two hands free at the moment and I am out of here...

Ciao,

Anne

Willie's World... A Cartoon for Parents of Teens

Where are you growling in your life?

Do you believe all that new age stuff about:

What you put out to the world, you attract back to you?

I know for me, my growl usually appears when I let others step over my boundaries... or I think others are stepping over the boundaries with my kids...  Watch out!

What brings out the pit bull parent in you? What are you growling about in your home that needs to be said- in words?

Gee, this all sounds so easy.

For those who are new, Willie is our family dog...  and sometimes it feels like I am the one on the other end of the leash,

Ciao,

Anne

Life Balance for Parents... CARTOON

Do you see yourself in this image? 

All of we parents of teens can relate to this at least some of the time.  And most of we parents of teens can relate to this... MOST OF THE TIME!

Our parents used to say they had lots of plates in the air. That was appropriate when we were home more frequently...  Now we are on the move!!!  We all seem to be always on the run... always on the way to somewhere else and trying to stay connected to everyone else who is also on their way to somewhere else.  I think the more appropriate term for our time is "Multi- Leashed" Parenting. 

How many leashes are you holding?

And the mother of all leashes for we parents... The cell phone!!!

Ciao,

Anne

PS  Did you know that you can sign up and be notified when I add something here?  Just go to the left hand column of this blog and scroll down to Subscribe to this Blog's Feed and enter your email address and Voila!  We are connected... Is that a digital leash?

Dogology... CARTOON

Willie's World... A metaphor for Parenting Teens and Young Adults.

When I speak to groups of parents, I try to bring lots of different perspectives to the moment.  Humor is always a good thing when parenting- but certainly not always possible and not always appropriate.  When I can draw on humor, it usually indicates to me I am coping well with a situation.

I hope Willie's World brings some different perspectives into your day as a parent.  If you would like to use this cartoon then please email me at abjcoach@comcast.net and let me know what the purpose is.  I always like to know where Willie is going especially when he is "off the leash".  And please leave all credits intact.

Also, I invite you to look at the book, "G.R.A.C.E. for parents of teens- 5 Steps For Bringing Your Best To The Moment" .  that I authored.  I get great feedback from parent of teens who need a quick tool to help change their perspective from a negative one to a more positive expansive one...  This would be a great gift for Mother's Day or a great gift for Father's Day.

Sending my best to you,

Anne and Willie

Ps  This post is dedicated to my friend Dawn... a constant source of new parenting perspectives...

In Pursuit of the Bottom of the Hole... CARTOON

 

Those Connections Not on the Calendar... CARTOON