The parental united front builds a brick wall, with the children locked out on the other side. When you change that to a united family, an entirely different view of problem-solving and collaboration opens up. You are forced to confront your true needs and reasons behind a direction. When those are clear, then you work together as a united family–parents and children–against the problem, with a large opening to see fresh solutions that were outside our own narrow perspective. It is amazing how talking through an issue can help everyone gets their needs met.
 Read More…

1 Comment | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Consensual Living, Equally Shared Parenting, Family Structure, Featured, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

Worried about remaining connected to your school-aged child? Laura from “Life Behind the Red Front Door” writes about how she remains connected to her oldest, school-aged child.  Read More…

1 Comment | Posted in Alternative Caregivers, Attachment Parenting, Balance, Consistent Care, Family Structure, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Routines and Schedules

I sympathize with those who feel the impulse to spank or use other forms of corporal punishment and controlling discipline, but encourage all parents to seek an alternative to violence by responding with sensitivity and honoring anger before it becomes harmful.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Gentle Discipline, Responding With Sensitivity

Mandy shares a story of a sticky situation which was alleviated by an unexpected food product: peanut butter.  Read More…

1 Comment | Posted in Cleaning and Organizing, Responding With Sensitivity

A reader asks our NPN Mentors about nighttime nursing with twins.  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Ask an NP Mentor, Breastfeeding, Cosleeping, Feeding With Love, Nighttime Parenting, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep

A reader asks our NPN Mentors about body boundaries after weaning.  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Ask an NP Mentor, Breastfeeding, Feeding With Love, Responding With Sensitivity

True, tangles aren’t exactly a safety issue. Self-confidence and body boundaries are, though. What I learned from my daughter’s aversion to hair brushing.  Read More…

74 Comments | Posted in Body Image, Consensual Living, Family Safety, Healthy Living, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

This week we asked you to share coping with meltdowns with us. Read more about responding with sensitivity on our resource page. Link up!  Read More…

9 Comments | Posted in Responding With Sensitivity, Wordless Wednesday

When I first began learning about gentle parenting, I spent a lot of time on parenting boards soaking up the experience and perspective of veteran moms. I noticed right away that the so-called terrible twos were viewed with nonchalance. Three, on the other hand? It is a tough age.  Read More…

19 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Gentle Discipline, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity, Routines and Schedules

Guest writer Laura Weldon explains some ways she expresses gratitude, both for things that she appreciates in others, and the ways in which they have wronged her.  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Responding With Sensitivity