SCH 038 Five Hacks to Help You Be a Better Parent Using the Do-Over

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Ever heard of a do-over? What about a Mulligan? In today’s self-care hacks episode I’ll share five ways to establish the do-over in your family. You’ll love this powerful way to extend grace and give second chances.

Is There a Difference Between a Do-Over and a Mulligan?

Mulligan. Second chance. Do-Over. They all mean the same thing and they all have the power to make you a better parent. Why? Because we all mess up as parents. Sometimes, we mess things up in small ways. Other times, we can pull a real parent fail without even trying. The more self-aware we become, the easier it is to recognize when things head south.

Face it, parenting is hard work. The hardest, most difficult, yet potentially rewarding experience you’ll ever have. And to think the doctors discharge us from the hospital with a tiny, helpless baby in hand and absolutely no instruction manual! Parenting is one of those learn-as-you go endeavors, and I’ve felt plenty of regret over the way I handled different parenting dilemmas when our girls were young.

But I did learn one really important thing along the way–something that changed the way I handled difficult situations and soothed the angry beast inside (or outside, if one of my teenage daughters happened to be arguing with me). Today’s podcast will share what I’ve learned about the mighty do-over and how parents can adopt this technique to improve their parenting skills. Along the way, you’ll model emotional intelligence, something every child needs to practice.

Show Notes

A great book on the do-over you can buy at your favorite bookstore: Mr. DeVore’s Do Over: A Little Story for Teachers.

A family-friendly outtake scene from Monster’s, Inc..

Come Back Next Week

As a parent and teacher, I’ve learned a little about what makes kids tick over of the years. I’ve also discovered the one thing kids can’t do without. Come back next week to find out how to launch your child and improve his or her self-confidence.