Whenever I speak to parents in January, they tell me one thing -

“I feel like I need another break already.

That vacation was hardly worth it.”

Which is sad.

Because we all want to enjoy our downtime, appreciate our family over the holidays, and go into the New Year feeling upbeat and optimistic.

But as a parent of an HSC, that’s often the last thing you feel.

Because despite best intentions, the holiday season was stressful.

Maybe your kid acted out more than usual …

You had to leave family parties early as they got so stressed …

Or the change in routine completely threw them off, and it was “meltdown o’clock” every single day!

Whatever it was, as cliche as it is to say …

New Year is a GREAT time to set new goals and make a commitment to calming the chaos and eliminating the meltdowns.

Trouble is, you feel like you’re facing this huge uphill battle.

All those routines you worked so hard to put in place in the fall after the summer break?

Gone.

It’s like you’re starting ...

Are you tired of feeling frustrated and helpless when it comes to your child's aggressive behavior? 

Do you feel like you've tried everything from traditional parenting techniques to yelling and rewards, but nothing seems to work?

Here at MTC we understand how difficult and stressful it can be to deal with a child who is exhibiting aggressive behavior. 

It can take a toll on your relationship with your child and with your partner, causing arguments and tension. 

But there is hope.

Just look at what happened with Jamie and John and their 7-year-old HSC. 

They had tried everything they could think of (sticker charts, rewards, yelling, counting to 3…), but nothing seemed to work. 

They were struggling to manage his aggressive behavior and meltdowns, and they found themselves constantly arguing with each other about how to handle the situation. 

It was especially difficult for them because their HSC’s twin sister was managing her emotions much more skillfully.

But with our help, J...

Here at MTC we understand that parenting can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging experiences in life. 

When your child is struggling with mental health issues, it can be especially difficult and overwhelming. 

If you're reading this, you may be in a situation similar to what Rachel and Ash experienced with their HSC.

Their kiddo was suicidal, wishing to die, yelling, freezing up, and refusing to go to school. 

Rachel & Ash went to countless therapists and tried many approaches, but nothing seemed to work. 

They were at their wits end and didn't know what to do. 

They were worried about their child’s safety and well-being, and they were also struggling to manage the rest of their family and their own stress and emotions.

But there is hope, Rachel and Ash found our program.

After working with us and implementing our strategies of playful parenting, systematic shame-free feedback, and prioritizing calm in the routine, they were able to reduce their child’s suicidal thoug...

Any parent of an HSC knows, the holiday season can be a NIGHTMARE.

Whether it’s overstimulation at family parties …

Disappointment surrounding gifts …

Or just the change from day-to-day routine …

There’s so much happening that can trigger a meltdown.

So it’s totally understandable why a lot of the parents I speak to dread this time of year.

While other parents are putting up the tree, buying gifts and enjoying their kids’ excitement …

HSC parents are preparing for a month of ups, downs and never-ending stress.

So what can we do about this?

I mean, you want to enjoy the holidays, right? Not just survive them.

Well, the important thing to remember is, your HSC has a big heart.

So whatever stress you’re feeling about catching up with family you’ve not seen for a year, or being in different environments …

You can triple that, and you’re probably only halfway to what your HSC is feeling.

But here’s what I want you to think about -

While it may be tougher for them, you owe it t...

I just got off a heartbreaking call.

I was speaking with a family who were ready to ship their 10-year old daughter off to her Aunt’s house … Permanently!

This Mom and Dad were at their wits end.

Because they couldn’t imagine 8 more years of parenting stress.

Especially when their daughter was such an angel outside the house.

But at home?

They were being torn apart.

Sadly, I’ve heard things like this many times before.

And if I’m honest, I don’t think these parents would have abandoned their daughter like that.

But unfortunately, when you get to this level, it also tells me something else -

They’d emotionally checked out of parenting.

They’d all but given up on having a relationship with their child.

And when you’re in this spot?

It’s like death by 1,000 tiny cuts.

Because every day breeds more resentment … More frustration … And more guilt.

And knowing you’ve given up on your child eats you alive.

This is why I’m so open and honest in these emails.

Because we need to ...

Most parents have times when they just don’t ‘get’ their child.

And most kids think their parents are weird, too.

That’s just life!

But when you’re parenting an HSC, that disconnect can feel 100 times greater.

In fact, this is something I hear from the parents I work with a lot.

Deep down, they know a certain level of disconnect is normal.

Because when they were teens, their parents didn’t ‘get’ them.

But despite this, they start second guessing themselves -

“Surely I should have something in common with my child?”

“Is it really normal that we’re this disconnected?”

“What if the gap grows even more, and they end up resenting me, hating me, or simply drifting away?”

It’s tough, because this kind of thinking has severe consequences.

And it only gets worse as your HSC goes from a kid to a teen.

You start to criticize yourself, and wonder what you’re doing wrong.

Or maybe in order to get your child’s buy-in, you give them more independence than you’d like, in the hope it gets...

Have you ever been mid-meltdown with your kiddo, only to hear someone remark -

“Kids these days!”

Or maybe you’ve been with family, and they mention something about being ‘spoiled.’

If so, I feel your pain.

Here you are, doing your best to keep the situation under control, only to have someone judge your parenting.

Even if the person saying it is well meaning, it still sucks.

Because they have no idea what you’re going through.

And as you know, comments like this are not helpful.

But do they have a point?

Is modern US culture to blame for your child’s struggles?

Or have you been spoiling them, and that’s why you’re dealing with emotional outbursts, high levels of anxiety, and a kid who struggles with things other children take in their stride?

Short answer …

No, you’re not spoiling them.

Friends and family (particularly older generations) often see an HSC and assume they’re like this because they’ve not been given enough discipline …

Or you’ve let them get away with bad b...

I’m not a nutritionist.

And I’m not a dietitian.

But one thing I do know is that what your kid eats can have a huge impact on their behavior.

It makes sense, right?

I mean, we know as adults, if we eat crap … We feel like crap!

And if we eat good, healthy, nutritious foods, we have better focus, more energy, and actually want to do things.

Same goes for your kiddo.

Managing their nutrition can be tough at the best of times though.

And with Halloween just around the corner, I know a lot of parents are going to be seriously worried.

We see it every year in my Facebook group.

The questions come flooding in:

“My child loves Halloween, but I’m dreading the way she’ll behave after eating all that candy.”

“Should I let them go trick or treating with friends? They so want to go, but I know the after effects won’t be pretty.”

“We generally try to keep my son away from sugar, but it’s so difficult around Halloween.

Should we stick to our guns and risk a meltdown because he’s angry,...

Ever heard a professional talk about how it’s a good thing for your kiddo to “get their emotions out?”

By which they mean scream, yell and have a meltdown.

They’ll say things like -

“Well, they’re opening up to you, and telling you how they really feel.”

Or they might say it’s taking the lid off a pressure cooker, to reduce the tension.

In theory, this might make sense.

But here’s the thing -

This approach is like teaching your child how to digest food by making them vomit!

Now, I know that’s a gross analogy, but go with me for a minute.

You’d never tell your kiddo that throwing up after a meal was a sign of healthy digestion.

If that started happening, you’d look for a solution, FAST.

Well, it’s the same for their emotions.

You don’t want your HSC to vomit up their emotions …

You want them to ‘digest’ them.

Why?

Because while we want our kids to express themselves, and to feel comfortable to tell us how they really feel …

We also want to encourage them to have emotiona...

Do you ever feel embarrassed by your kid’s behavior?

If so … You’re not alone.

Being embarrassed is a normal part of parenting.

But with an HSC, that embarrassment can be on another level.

Not only do embarrassing situations crop up more frequently …

They can also be way more intense.

So it’s normal to spend a lot of your time feeling red-faced, ashamed, and worrying that everyone’s looking at you.

Or worse … Judging you.

Believe me, here at my coaching practice, we’ve heard it all.

From kids ramming carts into displays when grocery shopping, because they didn’t get their way …

To having screaming incidents in the middle of church …

Or even cursing at random strangers.

And, while most kids grow out of this naturally, that’s definitely not the case with HSCs.

Even the smaller stuff, like refusing to compete in sports, or not showing you any affection while other kids are giving their Moms and Dads hugs and kisses can make you embarrassed.

Because you might feel like you’re...