Getting your child to use the toilet is an important stage for children and parents. When things are not going well it can generate a great deal of emotions for all involved. It can be frustrating, overwhelming, and generate conflict between parents. These feelings can be felt by your child and make toilet training even tougher. So what can be done?
 

Boundaries are an important part of family dynamics.  Healthy boundaries give measures of protection to your body, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  Healthy boundaries help us feel a sense of safety and teach others how we want to be treated.  Boundaries help us determine which words and actions we will accept and which we will block when they are unacceptable.  Healthy boundaries are:
 

It’s important to understand how family dynamics work in order to better understand a child and their functioning.  Family dynamics refers to how the family interacts with one another and what boundaries exist within the family unit. A boundary is the physical and emotional space between members of the family.  It is also a way to determine appropriate amounts of closeness between people.  Boundaries are important as they can create safe and healthy limits in a relationship.

• Being teased or called names
• Having false stories spread about you
• Forced to give up belongings – like money or games
• Threatened over the Internet
• Physically harmed – beat up or put in a locker
• Friends pressured not to hang out with you

Adolescence can be a tough time for teens and parents.  As a parent you may wonder, “How will I ever get through this?"  Not to worry, you can and will survive adolescence.  In fact it is possible to thrive during your child’s passage through adolescence.  
 

As a parent you go to bed one night knowing who your child is and how to interact with him. The next morning you wake up and wonder, "Who is this kid, what happened to that sweet person I knew, and when will my son be back?!" Welcome to adolescence. Adolescence is inherently difficult.  It is difficult for the teen and their family.  Adolescence is characterized by three elements: conflicts with parents, mood disruptions and risky behaviors. Let's take a look at all three components, keeping in mind that these are often normal experiences during development. 

You’ve noticed that your child is anxious.  Seeing your child unhappy and in pain can be unsettling.  The uncertainty of how to help your child can bring a sense of frustration and even helplessness.  However there is something that you can do. There are special exercises used to help the symptoms of anxiety called Progressive Muscle Relaxation.  These exercises can help your child learn how to relax when they are feeling anxious.

Winning and being successful brings a great deal of happiness.  You feel good when you succeed and receive recognition. As a parent you want your children to feel this same happiness and as a parent you may do everything in your power to ensure that your children continue to feel the joy and pride that comes with being successful.  It is understandable; no parent wants to see their children feel the sting of failure and the unhappiness that may follow.  However, could helping your children achieve cause more harm than good?

You have noticed that your child is struggling in school. Your child’s academic and/or social problems have you concerned. You believe your child could use help that you and your family are unable to provide.  So what do you do?  
 
If you believe the situation is dire enough, you could request that your child be evaluated by the school psychologist. How does the process work?