As you’re planning your gift-giving this Christmas for your child particularly, remember the most important gift is you. As working moms giving ourselves to our family matters most, yet can be the toughest thing to do with all the competing demands for our time and attention.

Earlier today I caught part of a very practical interview with bonding expert Heather Forbes, author of Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control, and co-founder of the Beyond Consequences Institute–and working mom has much to teach us about cultivating loving, healthy bonds with our kids–especially during those times when you want to give up and believe that no matter what you do you can’t get your child’s cooperation and respect.

If you’re there, then I have found a research-based solution for you in the Beyond Consequences Institute. I encourage you to visit Healther’s site and start with her beautiful testimonial which describes her journey into this work of helping parents struggling to bond and love children whose behavior is difficult and even severe because of a history of pain and brokenness.

Hearing Heather’s interview on Heart, Mind, and Strength radio show this morning made me rethink discipline–and how important my own behavior as a parent is as part of the process of disciplining and guiding my kids. I think you’ll agree once you read Heather’s story and learn of her work. If you know wonderful parents struggling with difficult behavior in their child consider making a Heather’s book a gift. You will have given them the power to restore and renew their bond with their child. What better gift is there in the eyes of a child?

I have asked Heather about the possibility of interviewing her. I don’t know what her availability is, but rest assured I’ll let you know.

Let’s not just give gifts–let’s be gifts this holiday year….

What are some ways you can make yourself a gift to members of your family? How can you be present with them?

Tags: bonding, children, family, love, parent-child, Parenting

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 pm and is filed under Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.