Articles on Parenting and Family Communication
By Tiffany Meyer
In divorced or separated families in particular, differences in parenting styles are a common cause of conflict. And if you’re sitting in the seat of the “NVC parent,” it can be easy to quickly judge your ex’s style as “wrong,” “domineering” or simply “uninformed.” Yet such judgments are only cause for further conflict.
Be Careful What You Hear During the Holidays
By Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD.
The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of year. Family gatherings, busy schedules, entertaining, and the bustle and pressure of expectations around gift giving. In this training excerpt, world-renowned peacemaker and author, Marshall Rosenberg, gives frank advice to keep our compassion in check by shifting our thinking.
Compassionate Connection: Nonviolent Communication With Children
By Inbal Kashtan, Mothering Magazine (February 2002)
CNVC certified trainer and coordinator of the NVC Parenting Project, Inbal Kashtan explores the relationship between Attachment Parenting and the Nonviolent or Compassionate Communication process.
Co-Parenting: A Commitment of Love (PDF)
By Lyssa Clayton and Eva Schonveld
Georgia and Brendan are just good friends…and the proud parents of a beautiful little 15-month-old boy, Malakai Finn. Parenting has been an interesting journey for them as when Georgia fell pregnant, her and Brendan were living and working in different states and not in a committed relationship. This is their story.
Five Tips for Enjoyable Holiday Gathering
By Neill Gibson and Beth Benning
Are you wondering how your next family gathering will turn out? Is it tough to relate to some of your family members? Do you sometimes leave feeling drained and wondering why you went at all? It can be different this year. Imagine walking into your next family get-together feeling excited about being there and knowing that you will leave feeling happy about the whole experience.
Getting Past the Parenting “Shoulds”: Compassionate Parenting Starts With Self-Acceptance
By Inbal Kashtan
“I love my children, but sometimes they drive me crazy!” Haven’t you heard parents say this? Have you thought it yourself? We want to meet our children with calm and compassion, no matter what, but we don’t always manage to experience calm and compassion.
By Lyssa Clayton and Eva Schonveld
One of the biggest issues for me as a parent is how I communicate, or not, with my children. With the best of intentions I’ve found myself saying things in ways which seem to actually make things worse and sometimes find it near impossible not to head down the slope of blaming, judging and criticizing.
The Heart of Parenting: Nonviolent Communication in Action
By Marion Badenoch Rose
“She drives me mad when she won’t tidy her room.” Frustration and anger are common when our kids either do things we don’t like, or fail to behave in ways we want them to. Nonviolent Communication allows us to shift our thinking from good and bad judgments to heartfelt connection with ourselves and our children through focusing on the universal human needs we are both seeking to meet.
Make Your Home a No-Fault Zone: 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflicts Into Cooperation
By Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson
Conflict has gotten a bad rap. It is usually considered something to be avoided, and parents usually think that something’s wrong with them or with their family when conflicts arise. Wherever people meet, however, there are going to be some clashes —some occasions when you bump into each other in the hallway of life. Learning how to move around — and with — each other at these moments will serve you and your children now and for the rest of your life-long relationship.
Parenting without Obedience; A Preliminary Guide to Intergenerational Collaboration
By Miki & Arnina Kashtan
When parents and adults shift from obedience, shaming, and right/wrong thinking, to freedom, love, willingness, and caring dialogue, children can and do find and cultivate their organic and genuine desire to care for the well-being of others, both adults and children, alongside their own.
By Inbal Kashtan
What parent has not experienced a surge of protectiveness when an older sibling (or child) hurts a younger one? Our cultural training calls on us to immediately take two roles: the judge, determining who did what wrong and what the consequences will be, and the police officer, enforcing the consequences.
What You Live is What They Learn: 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflict Into Cooperation
By Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson
As a parent, of course you want to have influence with your children; you want to pass on values and guide them in ways that will contribute to their happiness and success in life. The question is: How can you have the most influence with your children—by lecturing and taking them to task or by sharing your values and living those values yourself?
By Tiffany Meyer
Let’s face it, the pre-teen and teen years have nothing on the “terrible two’s.” Somewhere between the hormones, braces, and growth spurts, my 11-year old’s casual jokes and sweet remarks had been replaced with sassy backtalk and defensiveness. With schoolwork, her attention-to-detail was exchanged for a “just get it done” approach. And housework? Well, let’s just say she’s easily distracted. Where did she come from?
