The MicroStep Minute
Parent Resources
Improve your parenting in just a few minutes with easy action steps backed by brain science and simplified for busy parents.
What Really Shapes Our Kids Isn’t What You Think
We celebrate the milestones—first steps, birthdays, championships—but what if it’s the quieter, in-between moments that shape our children the most? In this post, parenting speaker and author Mary Willcox Smith explores the powerful difference between events we remember and the emotionally significant moments that actually shape our kids’ confidence, resilience, and mental health. A must-read for parents, teachers, and anyone supporting children’s emotional growth.
Not All Behavior is Permissible
Setting clear, consistent boundaries is a resiliency builder. The way to do this is by clearly defining our principles, staying in our role as a parent, and sticking to the bottom line. Easier said than done, but hear me out.
The Importance of Face-to-Face Time
While disconnection is inevitable in the modern world, reconnecting is magical. Putting down your phone and paying full attention to your child projects that they are more important than your phone—which is simply priceless.
Ditch Multitasking for Better Parenting
The benefits of multitasking are a powerful but deceptive illusion that creates a recipe for disaster (especially for moms). Being curious in a 'single-tasking' moment makes children feel cared for, supported, and loved.
Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable
When our kids feel frustrated, disappointed, or even outraged, we feel it too. Their discomfort is uncomfortable for us. Here’s why we shouldn’t (always) try to fix, justify, or over-explain for their comfort.
Put a pin in your story and listen for your child’s instead.
Vacations offer a reset, but returning to routine often brings stress and power struggles. When kids resist, parents, already overwhelmed, tend to focus on their own frustration. Instead, a simple MicroStep—pausing to validate and problem-solve—turns conflict into connection.
The Art of the Refusal: When Kids Say No and What to Do About It
When kids refuse to cooperate, it's easy to fall into power struggles—explaining, yelling, giving in, or bribing. But these common responses only reinforce resistance. Instead, shift the dynamic with clear expectations, simple choices, and natural consequences. When refusals stop working, kids stop using them, making everyday battles a thing of the past.
Repairing Restores Connection, Builds Trust, and Models Healthy Behavior
Conflicts in parenting are inevitable, but true strength lies in repairing and restoring bonds. Repairing mends rifts, teaches resilience, empathy, and communication. Bonus: it models healthy relationships, showing that love and understanding heal and strengthen connections.
Kids' Behavior is a Symptom
Children's challenging behaviors are often symptoms of deeper issues. Explore practical strategies to help parents address the root causes and build stronger connections.
Kids Are Our Expectations
Parental expectations shape a child growth. By balancing encouragement with understanding, parents can create an environment where children thrive.