Equipped Parenting

Do you know a child who is grieving? Grief in children often looks different than our adult grief. They “puddle jump” in and out of their grief, to protect themselves from being crushed by the pain. This is a good thing. 🤍 Another unique thing with childhood grief is how they naturally end up re-grieving losses as they grow. Maturity brings a clearer understanding of what the loss actually means, and how life will never be the same. It can sometimes catch us adults off guard, seeing our children mourn things we “thought they were over”.

If you want to hear more about how to support kids who grieve, I’ll be speaking tomorrow night at Sherwood Park Alliance Church. Thanks Sherwood Park Alliance Church for having me!

Jumping on the 2016 bandwagon a little late because that’s how I roll. Early 2016 I was a new mom to two, not really knowing what I was doing, and learning to parent while feeling stretched thin and often overwhelmed. We had some challenges at home, especially related to separation anxiety, and I was desperate to dig in and find solutions. I remember a little flame starting to burn inside my spirit, telling me I was to step out and do something new — that I had a purpose I hadn’t discovered yet, but was waiting for me.

Little did I know that year I’d start a new career track in school counselling, and in the suuuper busy years to follow, I’d start & finish my master’s degree, have another baby, become a certified counsellor and begin coaching parents and speaking to audiences so they feel more hopeful and more equipped in their role as parents. There is no more important work we do than love our babies well. If you need some hope and strategies, reach out. I’m so excited to partner with you and see what 2026 brings!

Back to school after the Christmas break is kicking my butt… you guys too? We are sleep deprived and that’s leading to more ‘tude and power struggles than usual.

The other day my husband responded to one of our kids with one of my favourite lines:

“I love you too much to argue with you.”

Why does this work? 👆🏻
✨ It holds the boundary. It says we will no longer engage in conflict about something we’ve already discussed and said no to.
✨ It reminds our kids that boundaries are a sign of love, not control.
✨ It stops the argument in its tracks and opens the door to redirection.

And maybe most importantly, it helps us stay regulated. When we stop arguing, we stop escalating.

Save this for the next power struggle and let me know if you try it.