May 2025

28 May 2025

Kids: Talking Back or Speaking Up?

We say we want our kids to be resilient.
To have confidence.
To take a stand.

But what happens when they talk back, disagree or express frustration to us, our first reaction might be: “That’s disrespectful!”

What if it’s not talking back…what if it’s speaking up?

Since they’re still learning how to express themselves, their words won’t always come out the right way. They might speak louder or sharper than we’d like—not because they’re being disrespectful, but because they’re still figuring out how to speak in a way that gets heard.

If we want our kids to speak up with confidence and share what they feel, we can’t shut them down the moment it’s hard for us to hear.

What if we paused before reacting?
What if we asked ourselves: “Are they being rude… or are they trying to be real?”

Instead of seeing defiance, we see courage.
Instead of shutting it down, we see an opening—for connection, and maybe even conversation.

This is what I know: When we give kids space to speak up—without fear of being shut down—we’re helping them build the very skills we say we value: Confidence. Courage. Character.

Until next time…

15 May 2025

How to Help Kids through Anxiety

Help kids through anxiety- and remember – it doesn’t just affect kids— it shows up in all of us when life feels uncertain, overwhelming or just too much to handle.

The night before a school presentation, my son was feeling really anxious. He was quieter than usual and snapped at me over something small. Instead of going straight into fix-it mode, I sat beside him, put on my detective hat and asked, “Could it be that you’re worried about the presentation tomorrow?”

He nodded.

Then I followed up with, “Is there something you’re feeling uncertain about?”

That gave him the space to open up. He told me he was scared he’d forget what to say in front of the class—and that people might laugh at him.

Saying it out loud didn’t make his anxiety go away—it just made it feel a little less overwhelming.

That moment reminded me that when anxiety shows up, it’s not answers we need first—it’s connection. And sometimes, the right question makes that connection possible.

These two questions help when anxiety shows up for me or my son:
1. What do I fear I don’t have control of?
2. What am I feeling uncertain about?

This is what I know: These questions don’t fix everything. They do bring clarity when life feels overwhelming, messy or tough to manage. If you’re looking for a simple way to help kids through anxiety, try starting with a pause and the right question. It can make all the difference—for you, and for your kids.

Until next time…

1 May 2025

Confidence vs Self Worth: Know the Difference

It’s easy to confuse confidence and self-worth—but they’re not the same. Understanding the difference makes it easier to stand strong in who you are. Confidence changes, self worth never.

Confidence is about your abilities—how you feel about what you can do, your skills, and how prepared you are. It shifts and grows as you face new experiences and challenges.

Self-worth? That’s something deeper. It’s about how you value yourself as a person, regardless of what you do or how you feel at any given moment.

There was a time when I believed my worth depended on my achievements, the praise I received, and how many likes I got on social media. I’ve learned that when you define your value by outcomes, you give your power to things outside your control.

Confidence changes, self worth never. It’s constant—no matter the situation

This what I know: You won’t always perform the way you want—and that’s okay. You’re still worthy.

You’ll make mistakes along the way—and that’s part of it. You’re still worthy.

Until next time…