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How would you stay alive if you had to hunt and grow your own food, search for fresh sources of water and live without electricity, using only your wits and skills? The truth is most kids don’t possess those extraordinary life skills, let alone the mundane ones we all need to make it in the real world—like balancing the checkbook.

When you’re out in public places with your kids, it can feel like your every move is on display. It’s like theater, where everyone is a critic. For Empowering Parents Contibuting Editor Jennie Wallace, her family took center stage this past weekend.  

A few months ago, we asked Empowering Parents readers to share how they respond when their child acts out. There were three parenting styles that readers consistently told us they were using and weren’t working the way they would like. The common denominator?  All three undermine your authority as a parent.    

Siblings bicker; it's what they do. They tease, taunt and fight. It can drive parents crazy and wear us down, making our homes chaotic and at times, unlivable. On today's podcast, learn 6 ways you can stop sibling bickering and rivalry--from calm parenting expert, Debbie Pincus.

When your child lies to you, it stirs up a potent mix of emotions. You might feel angry, hurt and offended all at once. Lying is extremely upsetting for parents because it shakes the foundation of trust we have in our child. Learn how you can talk to your child about lying on today's podcast.

As parents, we all have our triggers: the things our kids do and say that set us off.  And many of our triggers are related to backtalk and the shocking and hurtful things kids say when they’re angry. Learn when you should ignore backtalk and when you shouldn't on this week's podcast.

On today’s podcast we’ll be going over 4 constructive steps you can use to change your child’s behavior. To download our free Goal Worksheets, go here: www.empoweringparents.com/4-steps-change-child-behavior.php  

Parenting is one job that never takes a holiday vacation. As families are celebrating holidays, parents are also coping with sibling bickering, backtalk, temper tantrums, and power struggles. Use these 8 Parenting Tips to help you prepare for the New Year.

The holidays can be a tough time for everyone. And when you’re parenting an oppositional, defiant or challenging child, the holidays can be more than tough; they can be downright awful. In response, Kim Abraham has written a Message of Hope for Parents of Defiant Children.  

When your child acts out or breaks the rules, it’s normal to feel your authority as a parent slip away. If you’re like most parents, you’ve tried everything: you’ve taken the car away, locked the video games in a cabinet, and have even considered cancelling Christmas or a birthday party. You’ve probably also seen that these things haven’t worked.  

Sometimes disrespect comes along with adolescence; other times a child may show disrespectful behavior from an early age. Either way, it’s a behavior that can push any parent’s emotional buttons! Learn how you can respond with these 5 techniques, from the authors of The ODD Lifeline program.  

As parents, we want to give our children what makes them happy; we don’t want them to feel left out or get teased because their boots, phone, or brand name hoodie is last year’s model. And when we’re unable (or even when we’re unwilling) to buy the “latest and greatest,” we often feel terribly guilty. To avoid those feelings of guilt, here are 8 questions to ask yourself before buying anything.  

You put in the work: you raised your child, got them through school, and prepared them as best you could for living on their own as an adult. You were really looking forward to having the house to yourselves again. Finally, a little peace and quiet! Then, you find out your adult child has decided to live at home. Now what? Learn new ground rules for how to manage this situation on today's podcast.  

You thought “The Terrible Twos” were bad. Now you’re dealing with “The Terrible Thirteens,” and it’s just as bad, if not worse. On today's podcast, Dr. Michael Kramer writes how you can stop teen temper tantrums in just 3 steps.  

Do you have an ODD child or teen who constantly argues and fights your authority, refusing to follow the rules of your home?Believe it or not, there are definite strengths that go hand-in-hand with that challenging, ODD personality. This week, we’re going to show you how to see your child through a different lens,with stories of ODD kids who have worked with Kimberly Abraham and Marney Studaker-Cordner, the authors of The ODD Lifeline program.    

“Why can’t I get my kids to get their homework done and off to bed without the constant screaming, bickering, and crying?” If you’ve asked yourself this question regularly, you’re not alone. Parents say that homework and bedtime battles are some of the most nerve-wracking, exhausting moments of parenthood. We're here to help you get through it with 8 Tips for Calmer Nights with Kids.

Do your kids make you feel like an ogre when you set limits? Does the word “no” kick off whining, yelling and protests?It can be hard to know if the limits you set are reasonable or not. On top of that, how do you know that the limits you set even work? Whether you’re just beginning to set limits, or you’re adjusting your limits to match your child’s unique needs and developmental changes, it doesn’t hurt to have a little help.

Some parents go to conferences expecting glowing reports, but many of us dread them. Maybe it’s because you’ve had a prior bad experience and felt powerless, or that you weren’t a good enough parent. If you're dreading parent-teacher conferences, try Anna Stewart's new approach.  

Jerry Sandusky. Michael Jackson. Mary Kay Letourneau. All of these individuals were accused and/or convicted of committing unspeakable crimes against children. While certainly upsetting, these high profile cases are a good opportunity to spark a conversation with your kids about staying safe, as parents are the first and most powerful line of defense against predators.

What do you do when your morning routine just isn’t working? On today’s podcast, we’ll help you get back on track for the school year with 6 Ways to Fix Your Morning Routine, by Megan Devine.