Building ~ A New Season

 Thank you for stopping here at Exuberant for Life!  I’m so glad you are here.  

I started EFL in 2016 to focus on sharing blogs, podcasts, digital graphics (art) and more, all with the hope of sharing video content eventually.   As child-rearing and health issues took center stage, I wrote and spoke what I could while focusing on my 1st priorities.  Many years have passed, and as these blogs are bursting with content I am now ready to transition into sharing via different methods.  These blogs will remain for now as an archive of sorts, and occasionally as I find unpublished content I may add here for future reference.  My goal is to expand to write books on various topics, while building a subscription base at Substack, and develop a robust Youtube channel.  

Please feel free to dig around here and on the connected blog sites, take whatever is helpful and share anything you want to.  If you’re able to leave a tip, that would be fantastic.  You can also become a Patron to contribute financially to our digital content.  We also have online shopping available with items created by our artistic family members.  Check out links below to give into my work.

My Journal 2008

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Finally, feel free to reach out to me anytime.  

My latest venture

During the decades of rearing our young children and tending to our big family, my energies for writing were minimal.  Now that the youngest are nearing young adulthood and almost 13, I have a lot more time to get into the depths of perspectives I so enjoy through the mode of written words.  In order to bless my family too, I decided to leave all blog content here for free, while allowing readers to subscribe for $7 a month to my written articles over at Substack.  

We have searched for ways to experience win/win/win options.  This new way forward gives: 

1) Me the pleasure (when I have extra time and bandwidth from tending to family and home) of being able to write to my hearts content and share what bubbles with my dear readers. 

2) Readers get to follow along the written journey as I share from heart, soul and mind.  

3) My family gets the benefit of financial provision by way of your subscription.  

I really like win/win/win scenarios and am thrilled to finally be putting it all together.  

Note: as of today I am laying all the foundations and digital connections required for Substack, as well as getting the YouTube channel ready  where we will begin releasing content any day.  

There is a back log of material waiting to be edited and uploaded, and it finally seems like things are in order, the time is right and Spirit says NOW.  

Thank you for following along for free this long.  PLEASE wander around here in blogger as much as you'd like, here and at my other blogs: Hope for Narcissism, Rearing Trauma, and at the main site at Exuberant for Life.  

To get more into the depths with me via my writing, which is my passion, please consider subscribing below today.  I offer a free week trial in case you would like that.

As always, I bless you to seek the Holy Spirit for His leadership, direction, comfort, correction, peace, attunement, and joy for your life.  

You are adored 

(no matter what).

~Kate Mazur

From the Castle (our 700 square foot home on a hilly, sand duned-forrest)

Midwest USA

in honor of the life of Charlie Kirk 

& SLG finishing its current season

Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional health is really vital to our overall wellbeing.  When this vitality is stunted, we suffer greatly.  According to a couple of doctor's I have researched, we respond in one of two ways: addiction or disease.

We have to listen to our gut and to our emotions and our spirit needs to able to communicate to us too.  There are confounding obstacles to these processes built into our society (at least in Western culture) making it a challenge to live well.

As I get time, I hope to share details to remind myself and whomever stumbles across this path what is at stake, how important it is to continue to strive for wellness in these areas and the tools some of us have used along the way.

Here is my latest new blog post, which is not for the faint hearted.

Anger's Origin

I'm doing a study on the concept of ANGER in the old testament.  I know God gets angry and so did Jesus, so therefor I conclude it cannot be sin.  I'm sharing my crude notes here in case you'd like to dive in with me.

I am attempting to prove from scripture that feeling ANGRY is not sinful.

The reason for this is simple:  God wired our brains on the right side to feel six big emotions.  He designed things so we would be able to feel each one and return to shalom within ninety seconds by the time we're four years old.

In some family systems, certain of these emotions are considered inappropriate, wrong, sinful, etc.  This can be SO damaging!

I was reared by a Mom who likely has emotional disorders (labeled officially as "mental illness") like NPD and/or BPD.

Not being able to feel our feelings and react to protect ourselves or loved ones, stand up for ourselves and behave as God intends is a problem facing SO many of us.

DR Wilder breaks it down like this:  NPD is the inability to regulate the right brain emotion of shame, whereas BPD is the inability to regulate the other of the five.  Because of his extensive teachings from scripture and the research he and his team have done looking into Dr Schore and other's work on brain science, I use his working definition for not being able to feel our feelings properly.

Note: there are levels of emotional maturation we need to reach before we can regulate the six right brain feelings.

To begin my study with ANGER I start with Strongs 639.  As I get time I will update this post as I can.

Ex 4:14

Nu 11:1

Nu 11:10

12:9

22:22

DT 24:25

Question:  Does GOD FEEL ANGRY?

Can God Sin?

If he built us to feel angry does that mean anger is a sin?

Does the bible say, "IN YOUR ANGER do not sin" or does it say anger IS sin?

Ephesians 4:26  What is the object ?



updated 12/31/19  km

Feeling Disgusted Is Good for What Ails Us

Please enjoy this 10 minute video as Kitty Wilder (Dr Jim Wilder's wife) shares two examples of when she felt disgust and how she handled it.

                                              Click below to watch via Youtube.

Below are three audio clips I share as I began to identify disgust and allowed myself to feel my way through it (rather than stuffing, hiding, avoiding, etc).

Length:  5:52




Length: 7:20



This episode starts abruptly.
Length: 5:49

Feeling Afraid

I've been meaning to get this recorded and published for several months.  Today when a lady mentioned it I realized today is a great day to get it produced for you.

I have felt frozen in fear...when there was nothing in my present surroundings to harm me.  Embarrassing? Yep.

Here's a short story about my experience and one way I've been able to make it THROUGH those moments into freedom.

Podcast length:  14:48

Download this episode (right click and save)

My eldest son was frozen with fear and needed help.  Here's a story of what we did in order for him to find freedom from a crippling sort of fear.

Podcast length:  7:11

Download this episode (right click and save)

Feeling the FEELS

Whether you go for sugar, porn, work, smokes, shopping, exercise, making to do lists or checking Facebook, we ALL need to feel good.  While those (and all the other quick fixes) give us the feeling of joy, they're only mimicking true joy, which is the feeling that someone is REALLY glad to be with us.  

The quick fix doesn't last and doesn't really meet our deeper needs (ask us how we know!!!).

When we grow up learning we're loved only when we "behave" a certain way, learning to feel our own feelings can be a bit of a struggle.  

If we don't know how to feel our own feelings around safe people, then we often stuff them or do other things to help us shove those feelings away.  Temporary fixes (addictions) do the trick in the short term.

According to one very smart guy, every single addiction is rooted in the inability to regulate one of the six right brained emotions.

The good news?  If we've reached a certain level of maturity*, we can learn how to feel our own feelings!!!!  

They are:  

1. Shame (the soul kind which is similar to feeling embarrassed)

2. Anger

3. Hopeless Despair (sadness)

4. Fear

5.  Disgust

6.  Joy

If you've reached the second level of maturity*, you can learn & build those pathways in your brain.   Discover your maturity level here.  

The reason I believe it's true and am sharing this with you is because God designed our brains to feel all six of those feelings and get back to peace/shalom within ninety seconds by the time we're four years old.

(I know...right???  AMAZING!!!  And a bit depressing....)

SO...since you and I are a bit older than that, WE CAN LEARN TO DO THIS TOO!!!  I'm learning how, and hubby is learning and so are the beautiful children we have the honor of loving and rearing.

Honestly?  It's work and it's tiring just like the work it takes to help toddlers learn to deal with life.  Lots of naps and hot cocoa are needed...but it's DOABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sharing this series of videos which hubby and I have really gotten a LOT out of of.   

You'll hear a WHOLE LOT of information.  If you make it all the way through to the final video, you'll find whopping, juicy PAIN LAB techniques to help yourself learn to feel this stuff rather than reaching for something that is only going to give you fake joy for a short time, leaving you empty and still wanting that special something.

Here's to discovering God's glad to be with us no matter what we're feeling!

Here's also to us learning to love each other no matter what we're feeling so we can reach toward Him and each other when we're feeling stuff rather than isolating in shame, etc.

YOU ROCK.

Here's the link to the smart guy's videos.  Be blessed.  You're LOVED.  Seriously.

Hugs and big feeling blessings to you!
~Kate

More Info!

Over at Exuberant for Life, I just posted a two part series of blogs on being thoughtful to someone with DID.  I think the info there can be helpful to those who are dealing with parts in themselves and/or in others.  Feel free to take a look over there for lots more info about such things (and many more).  

Feelings, Parts and Math

According to a recent webinar I watched by Dr Jim Wilder, narcissism is caused by the inability to regulate the right brain emotion of shame.  Borderline is caused by the inability to regulate the other five.

I started this blog because I thought there was some connection to DID and these other issues.  Whenever I hear about parts or someone dissociating, I "hear" [or sense or see (discern) intuitively] there is a connection to these right brained feelings.  I just have NO idea yet how it technically works.

The point is, dealing with our emotions -the six right brained ones God built us with- is our JOB and our Mama's are supposed to help teach us by the time we're four how to get back to peace within 90 seconds from any of those six.

So, the job of Mom-ing is all consuming as we attune and feel our children's feelings, naming them after we've tuned in.  This is the work of Dr Dan Siegel, whom I share here (I hope I finished those links!) and in my other blog/s.

What happens if our Mama's didn't know how to do this or they believed it was their job to keep us from feeling certain things which God intended for us to live well???  

Many of our Grandmas or Great Grandmas (or both!) left the home where tending babies and toddlers was job #1 and went to work (or worked at home).  Children were raised by people who might have lacked the skills to attune.  This pattern of ignoring what needs careful attention becomes an emotional handicap and gets passed down until someone gets help.

One part of the journey as a person who relies on, obeys, trust in and clings to Jesus, is I have the honor of having God indwell me.  I have learned when I cannot find a person to attune to me that He always will.  I could share so many stories of those processes!

Another aspect affecting many of us this:  according to Dr Wilder, trauma is simply the feeling we are alone when a bad thing happens.

From what I understand trauma can cause dissociation in creative children.

So...I while I'm not a whiz at math, it looks to me like there are connections to be paid attention to.

My hope is that this blog, while possibly not all based on proper "math" will be a starting point for discussion, research and being open to learning how to love ourselves.  If we don't love ourselves we cannot love our neighbor!!!  Loving ourselves and tending to what we truly need (not only what we perceive we need, which based on multiple factors can fall far short of God's intention for us) is a way of stewarding ourselves well and as we go through those processes we grow companion for others who might be dealing with some pretty challenging stuff.

Knowing we're NOT alone is often the best thing we can hope to understand...and I'm considering starting and hosting a Facebook group for people who are dealing with these particular issues, either with a therapist or on their own.

Good News for DID

This is a lovely message for anyone dealing with DID.  I think it is helpful for someone who has parts as well as those who are walking along side.  I'm thankful to Mark T. for sharing this!

How to walk with and minister to those with DID

Destiny Access Coaching

Click below to hear the audio within YouTube.

Click here to hear more messages from Destiny Access Coaching.

To learn more about DAC, visit their website here.

Emotional Stuff Elsewhere

Hi there!

I'm sharing some stuff on emotional stuff over on my primary website at Exuberant for Life.  If you're interested, come check it out.

~KM

My Personal Experience with DID (A History) Part 3

In part 1 and part 2 I share my personal experience with what to me seems like DID.

Please enjoy part 3, 4 and 5 below.

Price: $3 USD

Length: 7:10

Price $3 USD
Length:  6:46

 Price $3 USD

Length: 4:29

My Personal Experience with DID (?) (A History) Part 2

In Part 1, I shared the beginning of my story and experience with DID.

This continues where that left off.  

Please excuse the car sounds in the background.

Price $3 USD

Length: 6:12

Why do I charge for this?  Because it goes way beyond the theory, skills and practices I've learned in the past few years and goes back to the history which caused me to deal with DID in the first place.  In other words, it's personal.

Childhood Trauma: What's New

As we deal with the issues of facing trauma in our adulthood which began in childhood, there are so many aspects to consider.  

I'm sure I will have more to share as I find other things.  Take a listen, watch and read what's below.  It's fascinating to see how these themes work together...

HOW CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AFFECTS A CHILD THROUGH A LIFETIME

by 

Nadine Burke Harris

(click the image below to play the video now)

Learn more about the Ace tests here.

To find your Ace score, visit this page.

This post contains affiliate links.  You can read my official affiliate disclosure here.

Getting to the Bottom of a Part

I am working on trying to comprehend the difference between our big six right brained emotions, what happens when we dunno how to feel those and what goes on with DID.  My brains themselves feel addled from trying to understand in my soul what my spirit SEEMS to be continually nudging me to "get."  Each time I feel like I get it and have some clarity, something comes at me going, "Nope.  Not right."

SO.....whether you're dealing with parts or working through trying to feel your own feelings, I think THIS STUFF is amazing.

I got into their website today and printed off some worksheets, worked through lots of quizzes (yesterday) and am listening to the audio book by the author as well.  WOW.

I really don't know how to classify it all because I don't have a technical background in any of this...I'm simply and utterly fascinated by the relational components to all of this....

Below are some specific links for you to check out in case any of them grab your attention.  They've helped me get to surprising roots of stuff!  I'm still sort of shocked, honestly.

I've read a lot of different materials from different places over the years, and so far this addresses it in a bit of a different way.

Angry?

Not assertive?

Co-Dependant?

Critical?

Intimacy Troublesome?

Overeat?

People Pleasing?

Perfectionist?

Procrastinate?

Lack Self Esteem?

Shy????

Take the Journey

Movie Revelation

This post is dedicated to my new friend S.R. and may contain affiliate links.  What are those?  You can read about them here.

As I try and put together a cohesive bit of stuff for you all about my theory regarding divided parts and how they relate to the six right brained emotions, I confess the main reason I am going into all of it is because of the connections my gray matter made when I watched this.

If, like my friend, you have NOT seen it, I encourage you to check it out.

As I study integration, attachment and other things, I see glimmers of those truths layered throughout the movie.

Get some popcorn, your slippers and some people you love to be with (or okay......be by yourself) and watch it.

You can check out the trailer HERE just in case you're not sure.  :)

My Personal Experience with DID (?) (A History) Part 1

I've enjoyed creating several podcasts for you so far (see the posts below this one) and here share stories of my history.  I hope you're encouraged.  Stay tuned for the next part coming soon.

Please note I have NOT been diagnosed with DID or any sort of mental illness (well, I did get an ADD diagnosis in my early 20's).

I relate to dissociation rather than having separate personalities.  I sort this stuff through on my own using materials others share in order to have a clue.   It's likely I am still very much in the dark.  It might not be alters or different personalities...I am not sure!

This episode is VERY personal hence the price of a cup of coffee price tag.  :)

I recorded this in several parts while running errands recently...please pardon the car engine sounds in the background.  :)

Price $3 US

Length: 5:24

Confessions of Manipulation

It's SO embarrassing to lack skills which other people seem to know.  How do we get what we want when we learned we had to fend for ourselves?  Take a listen as I share my own thoughts and heart about what might be the root of this yucky problem.

Click the purple play arrow on the red bar below to listen now.

Download this free episode (right click and save)
Episode length: 7:24

If you can relate I would LOVE to hear from you.  Please share what you're thinking/feeling below.  It so helps us all when we're honest and take that step to be bold...even about stuff that's so embarrassing!


To help keep podcasts coming, please donate now.

Donations are not tax deductible.

Feeling Disgust for the First Time...

Introducing a new series by Exuberant for Life as Kate shares her experience connecting with parts.

Please enjoy the three free episodes below.

If you have feelings on the inside which you don't have words for, you might be able to relate to this.

How to Be Me-Disgust Part 1
Click the green play arrow below to listen now.

Download this free episode (right click and save)
Episode Length: 5:52



Download this free episode (right click and save)
Episode Length: 7:22

correction:  back to peace/shalom within 90 seconds by the time we’re four …not getting back to JOY.  I misspoke.

This episode begins abruptly.

Download this free episode (right click and save)
Episode Length: 5:45


Does this resonates with you?  Does it help to hear me nattering away on my phone while I drive running errands in order to capture the raw, real moments of feeling my own stuff?

If yes please consider donating now to help me get more podcasts like this published.

Donations are not tax deductible.

Can you relate to what I share?  I'd love to hear from you. Please comment below!

Tough Honesty

*This post contains affiliate links.  Read my official affiliate disclaimer here.  Also, this post is pretty full of things some of you might NOT want to read.  In other words: *Trigger Warning!*  The stuff I share might trigger upsetting feelings, etc.  Please read with caution.

I've been thinking about where to share with you the things I'm experiencing.  I created EFL to share resources I've so appreciated over the past 20+ years since coming into God's family.  However much fun that is, I've found it so hard to actually share my OWN pain.

I decided this morning after a terrible dream to go ahead and be real HERE.  Makes sense since this site is devoted to helping bridge the gap and share how we can reach and help emotional orphans in our culture.

I am one.

So here's the first post!!!  It's a bit long.

I'm learning to feel my own feelings and deal with divided parts.  Are they the same thing?  I'm not sure. I have a hunch they're connected somehow.  With that as my belief I've been working through tough things and dealing with a lot which earlier in my life I could not face.

I read in the book hubby's going through that our parts are trying to get our attention, even in our dreams.  That really struck me and helped me be more open to paying attention.  Here's one way it looks in my real life....

I'm working with a Physical Therapist to get some stuff corrected in my body, and as I work it seems all sorts of things are surfacing.  The reality of having let my body "go" is one.  I heard a man a few weeks ago say that any woman trying to loose more than 30 pounds put the weight on as a shield, and with every 10 pounds lost she will have to face why she put on the shield in the first place.  *ugh*   That's a rough reality for me.  It's embarrassing to carry around all this extra weight...and it's very angry-making that in order to get it off I have to deal with so much inner stuff that's the reasons it's there in the first place!  *sigh*

Indeed, the feeling of abandonment (which still seems to be so real) rears again. To be honest, also the reality of what the author calls fantasy roles with our parents.  Um....ugh okay that came to light over the Thanksgiving weekend.

When you're reared by emotionally immature parents who aren't glad to be with you but use you like a commodity for their pleasure and purposes, how yucky is that?  The emotional neglect is one thing and it takes all sorts of work as an adult to learn HOW to care for our emotional selves, since neglecting our own emotions is the norm.

Then there's the abuse.  In my case it was emotional.  What's that like?  Well, imagine a parent going to their child for sex to meet their needs.  NOT RIGHT.  So is emotional molestation.  Sure, parents have emotional needs, but where are they supposed to find comfort and support?  So many mothers look to their children to fill the emotional void in their lives.  I have seen it in families with married couples as well as in families being led by single mothers.  It's WRONG to go to our children to meet our needs.

I'm happy to say the fantasy bonds are falling away (came to that horrid reality this weekend), the enmeshing is crumbling and I am seeing it for what it is.  I was reared by an adult infant.  SCARY.  Maybe that's why I keep having dreams about being all alone...because as far as adult protection for a child's emotions and nurture, etc...I didn't have any.  Sometimes I bawl from the sorrow of it.  Sometimes I am so mad I scare myself.  Sometimes I feel completely hopeless knowing and finally seeing that I NEVER was paid attention to (by her) emotionally and how very much that hurt/s.

They say attachment pain is the worst kind.  Oh, how I know it and so far I don't see it as part of God's covering in Romans 5 (the suffering treatise).  I am grateful for years of getting my innards ready to deal with all this.  It's still really hard.  I think today will be a four cup day for coffee.  Bring on the collagen and grass fed cream!  Happy Monday everyone.  💖 ~Kate M.

Understanding Emerges...

As I began dimly to understand what we were experiencing, I tried to put words to what the trouble is.  See if it resonates with you....

{This post contains affiliate links and is dedicated to men who are committed to fathering.  Read my official affiliate disclaimer here.}

An Unfortunate Problem

According to some, this is the 4th U.S. generation we’ve been reared without fathers and the 1^st without mothers.  Obviously, everyone has a mother and father, but those who know how to nurture & build into their offspring, giving them what they need while not burdening them while also drawing out what is within takes SKILL.  This is usually acquired from experiencing it in the early years.   

In another post we’ll cover more historical stuff; for today it’s enough to say there are a whole lot of us who need to mature and develop skill to handle well ourselves and those around us.

There is a lot to learn.  Being forty something with a houseful of beautiful children & a hubby I adore doesn’t mean I have a lot figured out.  I am so grateful for the myriad of men who are helping others learn the basics.

A man once challenged us to search the earth for the person who had answer to our questions.  We start with our heavenly Father and then follow His lead.  I am so glad there are many men filled with godly wisdom willing to pour into those not their own.  We have been on an intense journey these past years.  More about that later....

Feeling What???

How we handle anger, disgust, shame (the normal, healthy kind), fright, disappointment, hopeless despair and other right brained feelings (emotions) depends largely on how those who reared us handled them.  Heard of Inside Out?  It depicts well aspects of our innards and what happens within as we deal with the stuff of life.

After years of research and experimenting, I am beyond happy to report that by the age of 4 our brains are designed by a loving Father to process these emotions within 90 seconds!!   I have been like a mad scientist, chasing the LORD for answers, reading and listening to oodles of things and testing wildly on our two three year old's, our older four children, hubby, myself and a few other wonderful guinea pigs.  I am elated to confirm that in a safe environment we can learn, at any age, to deal well with emotions!!! 

I have a lot more to tell you, so please understand this post doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.... 

One of the issues which happens as an adult begins to handle the emotions perhaps they've pushed away all their lives is a feeling of, "OH NO...this [bad, unfamiliar, debilitating] feeling is going to over take me and I will not survive it."  If I remember right, this happens for everyone at about the 45 second mark.*  Forty five seconds is not long to feel anything, but when you're a toddler or grown and feeling it for the first time, it feels like forever.  Apparently, every single addiction is rooted in lacking the ability to regulate these emotions AND have words to describe them (we get the words from the left side).

In short, someone gentle needs to give us language for our feelings and then POOF!  It feels okay to have them.  With practice, we begin to live well rather than crashing and burning or trying desperately to avoid emotional calamity.

Fortunately, we have a heavenly Father who leads and helps us through the entire process, completely delights to give us the words we need and surrounds us with beautiful, life-giving people who care for us while we grow.

 Flourishing in an Orphan Culture

There are many father's who've worked to help fill in the gaps.  One of my hero's in this area is Mr. Fred Rogers.  His appeal in 1969 to the Senate subcommittee on Communications reveals his gentle father's heart:

His television program has been an incredible blessing to us as we're learning to handle our emotions as he gives words to so much.  In another post I will share specifics of how we use Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in our home to help develop the maturity in all eight of us, from ages 3 to 43.

 Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Volume 1

Even his books are filled with grace and dignity.  As a parent I have so needed his words for my own feelings!  Not just for children, his message "You Are Special," resounds again and again.

Before Fred Rogers's died, he and Dan Seigel were working toward communicating the importance of slow paced, wholesome television for children, though Fred died before they commenced.  In this TED Talk, Dan Siegel gives an explanation for what's going on within us when we're trying to figure out what to do about things we feel.

Many of Dan Siegel's books have given our family words which have completely changed how we deal with our own stuff and which has equipped us to more easily handle helping each other as we all deal.  I cannot recommend enough these books for those of you who are longing to get a clue about integrating and handling life better.  We enjoy the audible versions.

                                             

*There's so much more to tell and I can hardly wait.  Please stay tuned for Emotional Resilience Part 2 and beyond ~coming soon (I hope). 

:)

~Kate

Helping Transition into the Skills of Being a Person

This post contains affiliate links.  Please read my official affiliate disclosure here.

Okay...so in my quest for real life and truth in the setting of family existence, I was very blessed to hear John Rosemond many years ago on a Focus on the Family radio broadcast.  He and Dr. James Dobson were talking about Rosemond's book, "Family of Value" and I remember going right out to the local Christian bookstore and buying the book that same week.  The receipt is still in the back of the book.

That book has travelled through many moves, heartaches and ups and downs within our family.  Anytime I read even a paragraph in it I am jolted back to the reality of how important logic, limits and sanity are for the family...and how God's intention is for families to live well together.  Rosemond tells like it is and gives principle after principle about what's really needed in the family...and his sobering honesty and humor are part of the reason (literally) I agreed to mother my husband's seven children (I bore him six).

From Rosemond I found another concept which he explains well in his book Making the Two's Terrific.  I was fascinated by his ideas and had not heard them anywhere else. Also I had not known anyone to have his perspective or that type of attitude or success with children...  Since my innards believed he was RIGHT I set out to try and experiment using his methods on my own toddlers...and I was very pleased to find he was right.

Now after nearly 15 years of testing out and working with his ideas as well as seeing the bad affects when those principles are NOT done (the missing generation), I am still recommending his books, etc to anyone who cares to listen.  :)

We can also learn to implement the principles in our own lives to help our adult selves as we mature, as well as our children and others we have the privilege of loving through challenging stages.

John Rosemond's A Family of Value presents a critical view of the child care literature of the past quarter century and argues for an end to overindulgent parenting and a return to the goal of instilling moral values, such as responsibility, respectfulness, and resourcefulness.

In a completely revised and updated edition of his classic parenting guide, nationally recognized expert John Rosemond offers practical, tantrum-free methods for raising toddlers and getting them through the “terrible” times from age eighteen to thirty-six months. 

Focusing on the developmental period spanning age eighteen to thirty-six-months, which renowned parenting expert John Rosemond dubs, “the twos,” Making the “Terrible” Twos Terrific! offers practical parenting advice to ensure that every child’s “twos” are terrific.

By offering comprehensive tips on everything from toilet training to developing good habits for bedtime, as well as disciplinary techniques to control aggressive behaviors, Making the “Terrible” Twos Terrific! approaches parenting in a straightforward, accessible manner that is easy for parents to implement and achieve success with their toddlers.

No bribing, meltdowns, nudging, or cajoling are necessary. All parents need is consistent, firm, and loving interactions with their toddler to guide him or her during the developmental years. The methods described by Rosemond also translate to success throughout other life endeavors such as school, relationship building, and even productivity in the distant tween and teen years. To ensure that earthquaking foot stomps, decibel-shattering screaming, and consistently stubborn behavior are not the norm for your toddler, consult Rosemond’s Making the “Terrible” Twos Terrific!.