Megan Whitesides Coaching

 Kindness Begins With Me There is a Primary song that says, “I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right you see. I say to myself, remember this kindness begins with me.” Those words have been on my mind a lot lately. As I hear things in the news, things happening in my town, and even things my kids tell me about school, I keep coming back to that simple line: kindness begins with me. If I want more love in the world, more patience in my home, and more peace in my community, it has to start with my own heart. Recently I listened to a talk by Gary E. Stevenson titled Blessed Are the Peacemakers . Several things he said really stood out to me. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” He taught that being a peacemaker begins in the most basic place in our hearts. We replace contention and pride with forgiveness and love. We build bridges of cooperation and understanding. We respond with kindness. We deliberately build others up instead ...

 The Complaint Box: A Simple Way to Have Less Complaining at Home There are times when I can handle my child’s complaints with patience and calm. And then there are those other times … You know the ones when all your ears hear is whining, complaining, and negativity. Your patience is gone. Your mood is already thin. And every complaint feels like it’s drilling into your brain. That’s exactly when the Complaint Box is one of the best tools I’ve found. What Is a Complaint Box? A complaint box is exactly what it sounds like: a box where your child can “submit” their complaints instead of repeating them out loud. Here’s how it works: If your child starts complaining, instead of arguing, correcting, or shutting them down, you calmly say: “Put it in the complaint box.” Then they write down what they’re upset about and drop it inside. You read it later when you’re in a better mood and can respond more calmly. Why It Works So Well (Especially for Older Kids) I’ve been doing this ...

I don't remember where I read this quote so long ago, but it's been on my mind recently.   “Moms who don’t listen will end up with kids who have nothing to say.” Not because moms don’t care — but because most of us are busy, tired, and juggling a million things at once. We hear our kids all day long. But listening is different. Here are a few simple ways to become a better listener — and what they can look like in everyday life. 1. Listen to listen — not to respond When our kids talk, our instinct is often to fix, correct, or defend ourselves. But listening means staying curious instead of reactive. If your child says, “You never play with me,” instead of responding with, “That’s not true,” try pausing and saying, “It sounds like you wish we had more time together.” No fixing. No arguing. Just listening. 2. Listen without judging Kids shut down quickly when they feel judged. Eye rolls, sighs, or minimizing their feelings can teach them it’s safer not to talk. If your child s...

One easy parenting strategy that can reduce whining and fighting is surprisingly simple: agree with your child . When a child says things like, “You never listen to me,” our instinct is often to defend ourselves. But instead of arguing, try agreeing. You can say, “Okay,” or “You’re right.” Even if it’s not completely true, ask yourself honestly—are there times you don’t listen? Of course there are. We’re human. If your child says, “I want ice cream instead of potatoes,” you can respond with, “I believe you,” or “Me too.” If they say, “I don’t want to go,” simply agree. Agreeing does not mean you’re changing the plan or giving in. It just means you’re letting your child know they’ve been heard. Children don’t always want explanations or lectures. Most of the time, they just want connection. When we stop trying to convince them and start acknowledging their feelings, the tension drops almost instantly. This simple shift—believing your child and agreeing with them—can lead to...

 One small word can make a big difference in our kids’ behavior: notice . When we use the word notice , it lands differently than praise. It feels more real and more personal. Instead of evaluating our kids, we’re simply seeing them. A simple way to practice this is at bedtime. Each night, when you say goodnight, tell your child one thing you noticed about them that day. “I noticed you said thank you at dinner.” “I noticed you shared with your sister.” “I noticed you hung your backpack up when you got home.” “I love you.” That’s it. You don’t need to add anything else. Just notice. We don’t have to decide if what they did was good or bad. We don’t have to say “good job” or “great work.” There’s nothing wrong with those phrases, but they’re vague and can start to sound flat over time. Noticing is specific, and kids feel it. When we notice our kids, they feel seen. And the more we notice the positive things, the more we begin to see them. Then, naturally, our kids do more o...

Recently, my twins had their birthday. They’d given me a short list of things they wanted, and I was fully prepared to sit down and order everything. But the truth is…I don’t love shopping. The idea of scrolling through pages of products or heading out to a store wasn’t exactly lighting me up. Then it hit me: What if I just gave them the money and let them order their own gifts—and surprise us in the process? When I suggested it, their faces lit up. They were so excited. And honestly, the whole experience turned out to be far more fun than if I had done it myself. What I hadn’t expected was just how much they would learn from it: How to navigate purchasing things online How to cancel an order on Amazon How to compare prices, read reviews, and choose the best product How to budget their money How to wrap a present (always a useful life skill!) The best part? They each spent less than I was originally planning to give them. And on their birthday, we actually got to...