Megan Whitesides Coaching

 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...