Thomas Ramey Watson

parenting

6 lessons in happiness from one of the happiest nations in the world

Natalie Matushenko writes: I share what I have learned about being happy over the past six years in the hope that it will help others reflect on the changes we can all make to be happier in our lives. Here’s what I’ve learned: Read more

Do You Want To Raise A Kind Child? Here’s How

We as parents know from experience that in the big picture of life, kindness and happiness are closely linked. Kids, however, do not have the life experience to see this big picture. In their life with friends or at school, retaliating against the kid who teased them often seems like the better choice. The more …

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The opportunity to fail–the best gift we can give our children

Mo Issa writes: My parents gave me love, and lots of it, but often faltered in giving me direction. However, the best gift they gave me was the opportunity to fail, and then learn from those failures. That opportunity not only made me stronger, but also instilled in me a sense of responsibility and independence …

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Surviving the holidays after we’ve broken up with our mothers.

This article is by Justin Haley Phillips and centers on a woman’s view, but I know from personal experience that men sometimes have to break up with their mothers too. If a parent is so toxic that you can no longer have contact, then you must distance yourself, female or male. –Thomas Ramey Watson Phillips …

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How To ‘Break Up’ With A Narcissistic Parent

“Realizing and accepting that you have one or more narcissistic parents is a long and intensely painful road,” Julie L. Hall told HuffPost. “That’s because children, even adult children, continue to desire love and approval, often against all reason.” Ultimately, asserting low or no contact with a narcissist parent can be a healthy, liberating choice. …

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Dads Who Are Staking A Claim In The Parenting World

While our culture still often treats dads like bumbling babysitters, American fathers are taking a larger role in parenting responsibilities. A Pew Research study indicated that, in 2014, American dads reported spending almost triple the time watching their children than fathers in the 1960s. And millennial dads have been helping to shift workplace culture because …

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