Precious Moments and Present Parenting

Have you ever felt your child was being sassy or bossy? They are calling you mean, telling you what to do, or "talking back" to you. Are they hitting, yelling, or doing the opposite of what you say? Maybe these actions and words do not phase you but another does, and you react physiologically. Our children know us better than anyone because they have watched us since they were born, our return to their faces/coos drove them to talk and engage. During the beginning stages of attachment they started social referencing to see if something is desired by their adult. This social referencing doesn't stop but it is now paired with a growing sense of self. This mind is growing so fast in emotions and physical growth but self control and planning is not quite there. A milestone that all toddlers will reach is opposition behavior, they are asserting themselves as their own person,witnessing your changing reactions, and then repeat the experiment to try to figure out why. All wor

When parents set limits we usually set them verbally then are frustrated when our child does not follow through, even though "we've told them a hundred times. When strangers see the child being "defiant" they often say some cliche like "that child needs boundaries" and the parent of the child is frustrated thinking "I set limits, they mean nothing! My child just doesn't listen. " So.....What is a limit? A limit is only a limit if you can & will enforce it! Now do not confuse this as punishment or unnatural consequences, but guidance.  Now how do you enforce the limit, while keeping a healthy emotional relationship? Understand toddler brain development that gets in the way of "listening" 1. Memory of the past and ability to apply memories to the present is extremely weak during the toddler years  2. Between 18-24 months children are developing a sense of self, they identify themselves as a separate per