Raising children is (to steal from the Peace Corps motto) “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”  But there are some days, and some months, where it feels like it is only tough and the love is increasingly harder to find.  You are not a bad parent; all parents feel like this and thankfully there is help and support to get back on track. 

Children need limits.  Children need guidance. Children need positive feedback.

It sounds so easy but in reality, it is very difficult.  We have outside influences of our own parents, other parents, media and oftentimes we are just too stressed out and tired to deal with things.

But here’s the kicker- it is not only important to work with children and their behavior when they are young, but it is essential.  Now is the time.  They will grow out of whatever behavior they are doing now, but unfortunately that only means that they will grow into another difficult and even more destructive behavior later.