Though parents around the world have the same goals, American parents like me (despite our very best intentions) have gotten it all backwards.

Raising my children to be safe and secure in their world includes many things, like how to cross the streets, how to protect their bodies from strangers, how to use digital media responsibly. It also means educating them about the world's realities, one of which is violence.

If something's not working, you can ditch it. Pitch it. Without ruining your baby or yourself or your mind. If something's not working, you can do something else. You can, if you want. You can.

It's so easy to take things personally. Instead, the next time you notice yourself feeling defensive or like you're a failure or that you're not good enough, practice using a buffer phrase.

Normally, when thinking about communication, we think about verbal communication or some kind of physical communication. However, sometimes the best communication skill is to know when to take a time out.

Children make messes. They move from one activity or outfit to another, rarely considering that by returning whatever they were playing with or wearing to its shelf or drawer, they could easily keep their rooms clean. "Later" becomes their motto.

There's been waaaaaaay too much talk of bad dudes in the news lately. It's got me thinking about what goes into making a perfect person, about what ingredients we need to have in our parental pantries, if you will, to help us raise a great child.

Driving a car is a privilege, not an automatic right. We need to be a certain age, be properly trained and follow the "rules of the road," or that privilege will be taken away. With technology, the 'rules' are left to the parents to decide and teach.

The blessing of a child can challenge a relationship. When the child has special needs, these challenges grow exponentially. With the right tools, parents of children with special needs can learn additional ways to relate to each other that will strengthen their connection and love,

When it comes to communicating with tweens and teens, it's more likely that they will push for more than a simple "no" when it comes to having their needs met.

We all know the blues that come from leaving a fabulous vacation. At least with a great airport, the ride home won't be so bad.

Who says that the second we have kids, we're supposed to behave like saints, suddenly free of the baggage we've carried around for years? I personally wish someone had pulled me aside at a young age and explained that parents are just trying to find their way as they go.

How does the sweet baby you rocked to sleep at night turn into an adult who can't stand to be in the same room with you?

Remember, how you talk to and respond to your son's physical appearance has a profound impact on what he thinks and feel about himself.

My oldest daughter turned four this March. I know four may not seem like much, to a more seasoned mother, but in our family it was a turning point.

You -- and only you -- get to decide what's important to your family. Not the modern culture of "more" and "faster." Not the experts. Not even your mother. You choose what your family considers valuable, enriching and fun.

Here are the essential elements of a balanced, supportive approach to raising successful and caring children. It is not either/or. We can encourage our children's self-expression and also teach them self-restraint.

We want "kids to be kids," so money seems like a grown up topic that we can put off. It's easy to send messages that confuse our kids and harm the family's financial health -- but, you can change that.