Megan Whitesides Coaching

I love Dr. Becky Kennedy. She said: "Maximizing ease and happiness in childhood doesn't create well-adjusted adults." That stopped me for a minute. Because as parents, many of us are trying to make things easier for our kids. We try to prevent frustration. We try to keep everyone happy. But that’s not actually what helps kids grow. What they really need is connection . Most parents think they have a discipline problem. But what they really have is a connection problem . When kids feel connected: they listen more they cooperate more they trust you more Connection makes everything else easier. When a child feels safe and seen by you, they are much more willing to work with you. The good news? Connection doesn’t require hours of extra time or elaborate plans. It usually happens in small moments throughout the day. Here are a few simple things you can start doing today. Simple Ways to Connect With Your Child Today Get on their level Instead of talking down to t...

Recently I had a conversation with my son who is serving a mission for our church.  During our call he started sharing some of the things he had been thinking and feeling. He was being really hard on himself. He was judging himself and comparing himself to others. I think most of us do this to some extent. It’s easy to look around and feel like everyone else is doing better, working harder, or having more success. As I listened, I realized I had an opportunity to help him see something important how the way he was thinking was affecting his whole experience. Before I shared anything, I asked him if he'd be open to a little coaching? This is such an important step. Instead of jumping in with advice, it gives the other person a choice. When people feel invited instead of corrected, they are much more open to listening. He said yes. So I shared a simple model I learned when I became certified as a life coach through The Life Coach School . This framework helps us understand how...

 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 ...