Older children are amazing at times. When we adopted Baby Angela (a biological sibling of our other children), our kids became instant nannies.

Angela did not have a chance to cry before one of the kids was tending to her needs. It wasn't long before her newness wore off on our son and he started playing out side again but never before giving her a kiss on the cheek. However the two girls were at arms about being the best sister. Of course our oldest daughter acted like a little mom again and we had to make her let April hold the baby.

She would sit and glare at April until I would take the baby and send both of them out the door to play. You can be assured that it didn't... more

Oh those words. Just four little words. But they sure can hurt both adoptive parent and adoptive child.

As parents and especially adoptive parents and step parents. We just know that at some point in time our child will use them.

It usually occurs in a heated discussion or a down right argument. The child is so frustrated and wants to assume their own right to self in dependance. They Blurt them out. "YOU ARE NOT MY PARENT".

Ouch. I can feel them already. Yep it usually stops the conversation. No you can't take them back. Yes they are the biological truth. But because of the parent/child bonding you have so treasured until this point. They down right... more

As parents we quickly learn that no two children are alike. Just as each child's actions are often different. The same measures of discipline will need to be different also.

Of course each act of discipline should reflect only the necessary need desired to correct the child's behavior. As parents we tend to over discipline if we are caught up in the moment and reacting out of emotion versus thinking things through and acting in the best interest of the child's ability to honor and correct his or her behavior.

I am a big fan of time out. When both the child and the adult are in the middle of reacting it is often best to just take a time out to breath and reflect on what is... more