Dr. Vicki Sanders

“Just be consistent.” “Don’t let them get away with that.” “They need to learn there are consequences.” “Stop giving the behavior so much attention.” If you’re parenting a child with big behaviors, you’ve probably heard some version of these statements. And maybe you’ve tried them. You became more consistent. You followed through. You set firmer boundaries. You tried rewards, consequences, ignoring, taking things away, and staying strong when your child pushed back. But instead of things...

"But they know they're loved." It's one of the most common things parents tell me. And most of the time, they're right. Their child is deeply loved. They're cared for. Protected. Fed. Comforted. They have parents who would do absolutely anything for them. So why do they still melt down over small things? Why do they push everyone away? Why do they seem constantly on edge? Because feeling loved and feeling safe are not always the same thing. One of the hardest truths for parents to hear is...

And why it might not be because you're doing anything wrong. If you're here... I'm guessing you've tried. You've read the books. You've listened to the podcasts. You've implemented consequences. You've taken away privileges. You've tried reward charts. You've stayed calm. You've lost your patience. You've apologized. You've started over. And somehow... The behaviors keep coming back. At some point, many parents begin asking themselves the same heartbreaking question: "What am I doing wrong?"...