Let’s Work Together!

Parenting is stressful! The needs of our children, our own needs, and countless obligations seem to pull us in all directions. This leaves precious little time for fun and ease - it’s no wonder children (and their caring grown-ups) lose it. But there is another way. With tools based in the latest brain science, I’ll show you how to build more fun and connection with your children, a stronger sense of your own leadership in your family, and the skills and confidence to help your children thrive. Join me for a class, workshop, or private coaching. You can be the parent you always wanted to be.

Hand in Hand Parenting Starter Class. This six week class gives you the foundational knowledge to understand your child’s emotions and your own, and the tools to address your parenting challenges. It is based in the latest neuroscience, rooted in principles of respect for you and your child, and steeped in a deep understanding that a strong, loving relationship with your child is the place from which their intelligence grows. The tools you will learn can be used to tackle typical parenting challenges like tantrums, power struggles, separation anxiety, and sibling rivalry, and also to address issues that are unique to your family. And you’ll learn this all in a supportive community of other parents and caregivers. Classes are typically offered quarterly, but if you have a group of parents who are interested in taking the class together, I can also create a class just for your group.

Tears and Tantrums. Does your child have frequent meltdowns? Are you wondering how to handle tears? Do you sometimes find yourself reacting to your child’s big feelings in ways you don’t like? This class is for you! We will explore the reasons children cry and tantrum, how we can respond in ways that build their brains (and our connection to our children), and how to keep our sanity in the process. Tears and Tantrums is a three week class.

Play with Me! Come spend four weeks re-igniting your ability and desire to play! Parents are so spent, it’s no wonder we cringe when out little ones ask us to “play with me!” Through this class, you will learn the brain boosting benefits of play, how to super-charge your playtime with your child to build your connection with them (even if you only have five minutes!) and explore what gets in the way of play. You will also learn how to use play to address a wide variety of parenting challenges, including helping your child cooperate, recover from fearful experiences, and even move away from picky eating!

It’s Not a Disaster, It’s Just Awkward. This workshop is designed to help us slow down. We will explore our propensity to hurry ourselves and our children, the uses of slowing down (and how time we lose to patience is gained later to cooperation), and the joy and connection that can be found once we find comfort in the slowness. This is by no means a one-size-fits-all solution to everyday struggles, but rather a new way to encounter situations with young people, one that opens up space for connection and has the potential to lower our own stress levels. This workshop is designed for both parents and teachers, and can be presented as a 2 hour or half-day workshop, depending on the needs and focus of your group.

Setting Limits to Build Safety. Do you struggle with setting limits for your children? Do you find yourself letting things go over and over and then finally exploding? This can wear on your resolve and distance you from your little ones, and make you long for the end of the day. This isn’t how parenting was meant to feel. This workshop will teach you how to approach limit setting in a way that brings you closer to your children, and builds their sense of safety in the world. You will learn how to decide when a limit is necessary, how to set it without losing your cool, and how to keep loving your child well when they react to a limit you’ve set. The workshop will also help you grow your confidence in your own decision-making as a leader in your family, so that you can set the limits needed for each child and each situation with flexibility and warmth. This is a half-day workshop, designed for parents and teachers.

Bring the Giggles! Feel like you lost your laugh mojo? In this workshop, we will explore what gets in the way of our playful spirit, how to use play to solve common parenting challenges, and how to play to build safety and cooperation. You will learn the science behind the benefits of joyful play and laughter, and how to use this knowledge to strengthen your relationship with your child. This workshop can be tailored for either parents and caregivers or classroom teachers, as the tools we will learn can be used a little differently at school than at home. This is a half day workshop.

Individualized, one-on-one coaching is a wonderfully personalized and efficient type of support. Your schedule might not permit you to join class, or you might be looking for help and support with a very specific challenge.

Individual coaching is all about YOU. It’s time to fill your cup.

Here are some common challenges parents and teachers come to me with:

·       Aggression – in school or at home

·       Understanding and interpreting your child’s challenging behavior

·       Setting limits in an effective way

·       Helping a child that seems scared, timid or “shy”

·       Helping a child recover from early stressors, such as medical interventions, birth trauma, witnessing violence, neglect, separations

·       Helping a child that seems stuck in worries or fears

·       Sleep difficulties

·       Becoming a leader in your family

·       Bringing flexibility and playfulness into your parenting

·       Parenting while recovering from your own trauma

During our coaching sessions, we will work together to solve your parenting challenges.

Here’s how it works: Schedule an initial 90-minute consultation call, where I’ll listen to your challenges, hear about your goals for your family, and give you some first steps to take to begin to shift things. From there, we will map out a plan and begin working toward the changes you desire for your family.

Let’s do this!

As a former teacher and school leader, I have tremendous respect for the challenging and heart-centered work that you do. I’m also keenly aware of the societal stressors that make it difficult to do this work day after day, year after year. I know how hard you try, and will listen to all that you are up against, then help you build solutions that feel good to carry out.

Are you a teacher struggling with behavior challenges in your classroom? A school leader looking for ways to shift school culture, solve a bullying problem, or build behavior interventions that create real positive change?

Maybe things are generally going well at your school, but you are interested in professional development for teachers that feels connecting and wholehearted.

Or perhaps you have a general or specific concern, but aren’t sure how to address it? I can observe, provide feedback, and help you develop a plan of action. Because I am not part of the everyday life of your school, I bring fresh eyes and ears, listen without judgment, and help you build solutions that feel organic to your particular community.

From classroom observations to play workshops to custom professional development sessions and support - I help school leaders, teachers and students find more connection and success.