After teaching middle school for 12 years I thought I was prepared for parenting….how humbled I was!  Parenting is the toughest job any of us will have and it leaves us feeling vulnerable—a lot!

I remember one of the first moments I realized that parenting was going to be challenging, and I needed help:  I had a three year-old and a newborn, and I just wanted to get out the door without the drama that happened EVERY time we tried to leave the house!   It felt like the only way was through bribes, threats or yelling and it felt terrible, and not sustainable, and I knew there must be a different way.

I soon discovered Positive Discipline through our preschool, and it really resonated with me.  I began by reading all the Positive Discipline books and practicing both at home and in my role as a preschool teacher (and making a lot of mistakes a long the way!).  In 2015 I began formal training in PD, and it has changed my life and is something I eagerly want to share with others.  Truthfully, this is not just about parenting—it’s about any respectful human relationship, and gives us the tools that support us in parenting, with the aim to help children grow into capable, self-motivated, loving adults.  With the foundation of Adlerian psychology and research based, Positive Discipline has proven to be a respectful and effective way to build the relationship I want with my family.

Since then, I have been honored to teach parenting workshops and provide one on one coaching for parents with children of all ages, from toddlers through teenagers.  There is nothing more rewarding to me than a parent saying the experience has changed the relationships in their family, and that they felt inspired, connected and more confident.  Sometimes parents even tell me much later that they still find themselves asking in a challenging situation: “What would Julie do?”

I invite you on this parenting journey with me!