Megan Whitesides Coaching

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...

 As parents, we all want our kids to grow up confident — to believe in themselves, take initiative, and handle challenges without fear. But true confidence doesn’t come from constant reassurance or praise. It comes from competence. When kids are given chances to do real things for themselves, they begin to see what they’re capable of. That success, however small, fuels their confidence. Then, because they feel more confident, they’re more likely to try new things — which helps them build even more competence. It’s a powerful feedback loop that starts with us stepping back. Think about all the little tasks we do for our kids that they could actually do for themselves. Here are a few simple examples: Let them make their own haircut or dentist appointments . Encourage them to order their own food at a restaurant. If you’re staying at a hotel, have them call the front desk to ask for an extra pillow or find out when breakfast is served. Let them talk to the cashier w...

As parents, our instinct is to help. We see our child fumbling with a puzzle piece, struggling to tie a shoe, or getting frustrated trying to buckle a seat belt — and we want to jump in. We hate to see them struggle. But here’s the truth: when we step in too quickly, we rob them of the chance to build frustration tolerance — a skill that will serve them in every area of their lives. Frustration tolerance is the ability to stay calm, think, and keep trying even when something feels hard. It’s what helps a child not give up when math homework gets confusing, when a friendship feels tough, or when life throws them challenges later on. So next time your child is working on something — tying shoes, building a Lego set, making a sandwich, making a phone call or finishing that tricky puzzle — resist the urge to take over.   Instead, take a breath, step back, and let them work through it. It might take longer. It might get messy. They might get frustrated. But that’s exactly the point....

Connection is a feeling.  If you want to feel more connected to your kids then it comes from what you think.   Connection doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s usually the little, consistent things that matter most. Here are three practical things parents can start doing right away: 1. Journal Each night before you go to bed write down something you noticed about your child. Something funny they said or did, something nice they said or did. Anything goes. I have done this for years, and it's so fun to look back on and my kids enjoy it too. I also pay more attention to and notice the good in them. 2. Share their world.  Connection doesn’t only happen in big conversations—it’s in the everyday moments. Show interest in what they care about, even if it's not your thing. Ask questions about their favorite: Youtube video, toy, sport or whatever. Sit next to them while they play a game or play with them (even chess🤪) When you show curiosity about what they care about i...