Category Archives: Parentisms

Digging a Little Deeper than “Misbehavior”

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

So — there’s this dirty little parenting myth that started decades ago and that lingers still in the rarely mentioned corners of the current social parenting contract corrupting the ears of those who listen, and driving opposition into the hearts of families everywhere. … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting Ideas, Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Long and Winding Road…

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

One of the themes this week in the various social media parenting groups to which I belong has been “process”. Several times, I’ve found myself encouraging parents to remember that growing up, learning how to negotiate life, figuring out all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Power of Saying What You Want

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

In the Positive Discipline parenting course (in which Natalie and I were trained and certified as instructors last Spring…), there are a slew of different experiential activities  that instructors may share with parents in order to help underscore or increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting Ideas, Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Yo-Yo Lessons

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

Juju has been teaching Xi how to yo-yo. He brought over this lovely classic orange Duncan butterfly — straight out of the 80s — and told the girls he wanted them to be able play with it if they liked. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beautifulness, I'm Thankful for..., Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Parentisms: Listen UP

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

It’s a simple skill — listening. Though we can develop nuanced abilities to savor certain qualities in various particular soundscapes, it doesn’t take much to, say, hone in on the words the person in front of you is speaking. Remembering … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Parentisms: Time [isn’t] In A Bottle *

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

Originally posted on "A Beautiful Place of the World":
“Parentisms” is a little series offering tiny mantras and quick thoughts on the nature of parenting. My hope is that these little perspective framers will be a boon for…

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parentisms: Reading You Loud and Clear

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

“Come in — come in — this is the infant brain — all systems are go and we are reading you loud and clear — copy?” The human brain is a wonder of the cosmos. It regularly performs feats which … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Parentisms: The Master Programmers

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

Ever thought about all the stuff you are teaching your children about life, themselves, and the world every single day? Well this is just a little reminder for us all that we parents play a central role in creating the … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Parentisms: Children are not Football Teams

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

Goal obsession, competition,  performance pressure, roaring praise, penalties, and time-outs… No, these aren’t the key words for a Google search on professional football. These are methods commonly espoused by “parenting experts” for raising our children. In Western society, at least, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parentisms: Play is for Parents Too!

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

Today’s post is just a simple reminder. Play is good for our kids developmentally, cognitively, physically, and emotionally. It helps them grow, and assists them in experimenting with and discovering the nature of reality. It is actually more of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Parentisms: Time [isn’t] In A Bottle

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

“Parentisms” is a little series offering tiny mantras and quick thoughts on the nature of parenting. My hope is that these little perspective framers will be a boon for parents of all sorts, regardless of your particular philosophy or approach. … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Parentisms: Monkeying Around but Meaning Business

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

This is part of the little series I’m doing, offering tiny mantras and quick thoughts on the nature of parenting. My hope is that these little perspective framers will be a boon for parents of all sorts, regardless of your … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Parentisms: The Family Farmer

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

This is a little series I’ll be doing throughout the year, offering tiny mantras and quick thoughts on the nature of parenting. My hope is that these little perspective framers will be a boon for parents of all sorts, regardless … Continue reading →

Posted in Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Perfection is a Bullsh*t Goal

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Nathan M McTague, CPCC, CPDPE, CMNEC

Take it from a lifelong sufferer of his own particular strain of perfection addiction — we’d be better off putting ourselves out of everyone else’s misery (especially our children’s) than laying all our bets, or staking our consciences, on being perfect … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting Ideas, Parentisms | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments