Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

by Becky Kennedy

“I won’t let you hit your brother” as you walk between your daughter and her brother and position your body in a way so the hitting doesn’t happen again. “I know you’re frustrated! Having a brother who can crawl and get into all of your stuff is so hard. I’m here. I’ll help you figure out how to keep your block structure safe.” “I won’t let you run with scissors” as you hold your child—gently and firmly—in place. “I know, you want to run run run! You can put those scissors down and run or finish your project and run around later. Which would you rather? Oh . . . you want to do both? I know, sweetie. I won’t let you do anything dangerous, even when you’re mad at me about it. I love you that much. You’re allowed to be upset; I get it.” “Screen time is over now. I’m going to turn off the TV.” You turn off the TV and place the remote somewhere it cannot be reached by your child. “You wish you could watch another show. I know! Stopping TV time is so hard for me too. Want to tell me the name of the one you want to watch tomorrow? I’ll write it down for us so we don’t forget.”