Thank you! Please feel free to share the link with others.

Hi Erika, I apologize for my delayed reply. I appreciate your comment, because I think it's true for so many parents! We might have been raised by parents who leaned more toward authoritarian parenting because that's what they were taught to do and they did their best with the knowledge and skills they had. Current research supports a more AUTHORITATIVE parenting style (kind AND firm, rather than only firm...which is authoritarian, or only kind...which is more permissive). Positive Discipline supports this AUTHORITATIVE style, and teaches parents how to be kind AND firm at the same time. One component of this is recognizing that we all need to feel power in positive ways, starting in our childhood. Awareness of our own internal power (I can influence what happens to me, I have self-discipline and self-control, I can contribute in meaningful ways) is the core of self-confidence, self-esteem, and autonomy. When we give children at all stages of development positive power (within the boundaries that we set as parents), they are less likely to TAKE power in negative ways. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have questions about this concept, or we can continue the conversation here! [email protected]