Welcome to PEPTalk! This blog is all about parenting – including tips, great articles and updates on our class offerings. The conversation is for parents and others who want to raise healthy, cooperative, thriving children. Raising children to thrive isn’t easy, especially when those children regularly mess up our plans for their success. We learn the art of parenting from each other, and our PEPTalk blog is here to help—with tips, tools, talk and encouragement—as well as updates about PEP’s many educational programs.
Our bloggers are like our class leaders (many of them are class leaders)—parents who have found at PEP support, inspiration and a sensible road map for the journey. They’ll share their unique perspectives and experiences, connected by their deep commitment to helping you be the parent you want to be. We invite you to join the conversation.
“Max, you have one more minute left of screen time, and then it’s time to put it away,” I calmly told my 10-year-old AuDHD (autistic + ADHD) son, after having given him five- and three-minute reminders prior. “But I need more time! It’s not fair!” Max yelled in return, banging his fist on the table and hugging his device to his chest. Does this scenario sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone, and you can imagine the struggle that might have ensued.... read more>>
Parenting today can feel like a hamster wheel of doing, striving, scrolling and worrying. Filled with anxiety and the best of intentions, we may find ourselves inadvertently making ourselves crazy and putting our kids at risk for a myriad of mental health issues. Looking for solutions to this common dilemma, I spoke with Jenny Wallace — award winning journalist and parent of three — about her book, “Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What Parents Can Do About It.” The title of your book is so compelling,... read more>>
When I was raising young children, I often reflected on the quote “the days are long, but the years are short” by Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and one of today’s most thought-provoking observers of human nature. It made sense to me. I would wait (not so patiently) at the door, frustrated and weary, for my husband to return home from work after a 12-hour day. All I wanted was to pop the fussy baby into his arms,... read more>>
School safety is an issue on every parent’s mind these days. It can be difficult to know where our fears end and our children’s begin. As parents, it’s important to remember that most of us never went through safety training experiences like these. Our generation never went to school and had active shooter drills, lockdowns, practice hiding, evacuations. When most of us were kids, the worst thing we were probably trained to prepare for was an earthquake,... read more>>
I started noticing the “Adulting” checklists during my children’s early high school years. “Adulting 101” … “12 Life Skills All Kids Need to Know to Leave Home” … “24 Life Skills Every Teen Should Learn.” No two lists were the same. They each placed a higher value on one skill or set of skills over another. From balancing a budget or navigating public transportation to cooking and doing laundry, each list posited the skills every teen needed to launch successfully into adulthood.... read more>>
I’ve talked to many experts in the field of parenting through my work as a Certified Parent Educator with the Parent Encouragement Program in Kensington, Maryland. One of the warmest and most trusted of those I’ve come across is Dr. Wendy Mogel, author of the book, “Voice Lessons: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Listen.” I had the pleasure to sit down with Dr. Mogel and ask for her thoughts on parenting today.... read more>>
“Come ON, Miles, get your shoes on! I’ve asked you four times already! We have to go, or you’ll be late!” This is a frequent directive from 9-year-old Miles’ mom on school days. The more agitated she gets as the minutes tick by, the angrier he gets, yelling, “Leave me alone! I AM getting ready!” He storms off and the whole interaction feels terrible for everyone involved.... read more>>
Wait a minute! What’s the title of this article? Positive time-out? There’s no such thing! Well, folks – I hope that by the time you finish reading this article, you come away with a different perspective about what time-out has been traditionally, and how it can be positive for child and parent (or teacher), a learning experience, and a way to diffuse a tense situation. Traditionally, a child has been “put into” time-out because of “bad” behavior.... read more>>
The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. – “It’s Time to Stop Following The Golden Rule”, Irina Cozma, Harvard Business Review What if what you would like is not what they would like? … What if one doesn’t particularly love oneself? – Rabbi Sylvia Rothschild I get it. Your parenting begins and ends with the Golden Rule.... read more>>
Mistakes are good. Failure is fine. Being “good enough” is, well, good enough! The number one way for people – all people – to improve is by making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and trying a different way of doing things in the future. There is no such thing as a “perfect parent”, and if there were, they wouldn’t be human! Keeping children safe, providing a secure environment, soothing them when needed, and teaching them life skills – all while making mistakes along the way – is exactly what children need.... read more>>
Parent Encouragement Program
10100 Connecticut Ave.
Kensington, MD 20895
301-929-8824
office@PEPparent.org
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