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09/11/2026

I know “You can be mad, but you can’t be mean” is everywhere, and I get why we reach for it, but here’s why you may want to re-consider it.

Tell me what your child says or does when they’re mad (the exact words if you have them) and I’ll give you a script for that moment so we can avoid things like “don’t be mean.”

PS: Meltdown at home or in the middle of the store? Comment HOLIDAY for my *free* Holiday Script Pack.

08/11/2026

Behavior is how kids communicate until they have language for it. 😅Here’s what to keep in mind for each one:
👉🏽 #1 “I need attention”: Kids go for whatever gets your attention fastest, even if it’s screaming, whining, or demanding. Teaching the words gives them a clear plan forwards. Kids tend to repeat what works. My 3-year old says this every now and then and I’ve noticed it helps soften my defenses, which helps! 😅🥹

👉🏽 #2 “Space please”: Preschoolers are still building impulse control, so when someone is too close, the body reacts before the brain catches up. “Space please” gives them a fast way to protect their space without hitting or pushing. Teach the other side too - “When a friend says space please, we give space.”

👉🏽 #3 “Help please”: Preschoolers often can’t tell they’re stuck until they’re already frustrated, so it comes out as yelling, throwing, or breaking things. Teach them to notice the stuck feeling (“this is hard”) and to ask. When you help, keep them in control of the process (makes them more independent next time!) by saying something like, “Want me to show you, or hold it while you try?”

vWhich one does your preschooler need most? Comment 1, 2, or 3 (and add YES if you want a Part 2). 👇🏽

07/11/2026

Which one do you want to try first, 1-7?

06/11/2026

If your kid has ever turned your own parenting lines back on you, no shame, they’re just good listeners. 😅 Kids try on our words the same way they try on our shoes. Here’s what to keep in mind for each one:

👉🏽 #1: Kids copy the “two options” trick because it works on them. Naming the want (“both sound fun”) takes the sting out of the no, and you stay in charge of the plan while they still get a say in the pick.

👉🏽 #2: Counting to 5 is a common parenting script, and kids repeat what they hear. Answering with “tell me what you need” gives them the tool they were missing instead of a countdown. If you’ve been counting a lot, it’s okay to have a quick reset conversation (“I’ve noticed I’ve been counting too much. Let’s find another way to work as a team...”) also shows them that adults change their own patterns.

👉🏽 #3: “Take a big breath” is your own calming script coming back at you. Thanking them shows it works, and they get to watch you use it. It also helps you feel how the script feels on the other side (in case you want to switch up your language).

Bonus: if they say, “I told you don’t do that!” (even though you didn’t), try, “It seems like you don’t like when I do that. You can say, ‘Mommy, can you please not do that?’”

Remember, children pick up language from everywhere: home, other adults, friends, screens. Rather than shut it down (“Don’t talk to me like that!!”), help them learn to use their words well.

Which one does your kid say most? Comment 1, 2, or 3 (and add YES if you want a Part 2). 👇🏽

05/11/2026

Pheww, these moments are so hard! We feel frustrated, flustered, and disappointed. We feel unheard and disrespected and it can feel tempting to tell our child we're disappointed in them (or what they're doing).

Our child’s response is the clue. When a child asks, “Why are you happy with her and mad at me?” they’re asking, "are we still okay?" To shift this, focus on how you feel (“I feel disappointed right now”) and what to do next.

What do you think? Is it okay to say “I’m disappointed in you”?

04/11/2026

If you’ve ever stopped mid-reaction and wondered, “Wait, do I need a consequence for this?”, then this is for you! Here are some important things to keep in mind for each point.

👉🏽 #1: Kids learn fast whether telling the truth is safe. If we punish/shame them after they confess, we run the risk of teaching them to hide their mistakes next time. The key here is to help them reflect on the feelings that drove their decision (ex: your child might say, “I was jealous of my sister. I didn’t like feeling outshined and this is why I decided to hide her homework”), how that decision impacted others, and how to make it right.

👉🏽 #2: A rule nobody said out loud can’t be broken on purpose. They need clarity and a chance to practice.

👉🏽 #3: The natural consequence already did it’s job, so doubling down and adding an “I told you so” (I know it’s tempting!) or a punishment moves their attention from the lesson to defensiveness. Your empathy leaves room for them to think about next time.

Which one is hardest for you? Comment 1, 2, or 3 (and add YES if you want a Part 2). 👇🏽

03/11/2026

Let's talk in the comments - Has your child ever mistaken your serious voice for mad? 1 = all the time, 2 = sometimes, or 3 = not yet?

By the way, I originally shared this inside my Morning Thoughts (inside my Stories). Be sure to tune in over there for daily parenting insights, scripts and stories from my own parenting. ☕💌

02/11/2026

A bossy kid is a natural leader who is still practicing listening and seeing others’ point of view. 😅🫶🏽

👉🏽Script 1: Kids who boss usually have big ideas and haven’t learned that play is a shared story. We want to help them understand what playing together really means and give them a choice. “What’s her idea?” also helps them practice picturing what’s in someone else’s head, a skill kids are still building.

👉🏽Script 2: Young kids (esp ages 4-8) see rules as fixed and fairness as black and white, so a broken rule feels like something has to be fixed right now. Teaching your kid to check in (“Can we check the rule?”) gives them a way to keep things fair w/o taking over the game or attacking someone.

👉🏽Script 3: Kids repeat what works. If we answer the order, we teach that ordering works. If we answer the question, we teach that asking works.

Do you have a natural born leader on your hands? Which one is your kid’s go-to, 1, 2, or 3? If it’s a different moment, i would love to know what it looks like at your house.🫶🏽

01/11/2026

Mantra for the week: Small shifts in how we respond create big changes in how they react.

When you shift these 5 patterns, you'll see behavior shift too:
✅Tell instead of ask
✅Say it once, then add action
✅Be consistent even when you're exhausted
✅Don't negotiate after you've said no
✅Regulate first, teach later

Pick ONE to work on this week. Just one.

PS: Don't forget to download my free Script Pack for exact phrases to use during tantrums, defiance, transitions & sibling fights. Link in bio ↑

30/10/2026

Your 2-5 year old might not tell you what they need, but they’ll leave you clues. Common clues that are easy to overlook: demanding to be heard during play, climbing on everything (and yell “Watch me!”), and whining to help with things they’re not ready for yet. 😅

Comment SCRIPTS and I’ll send you my free Script Pack, with some of my fav scripts for defiance, tantrums, and more!

PS: Want more like this? I share a Morning Thought in my Stories every day, which are short parenting reflections to help you see the hard moments differently. Tap my photo to catch today’s ☕💌

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