Nanny 911: Child Behavior Challenge #12

Hello, parents! We've made it halfway through this bootcamp already! Give yourselves a pat on the back for all of your efforts so far! Let's take today, and this weekend, to work on everything that you've learned this week. This will give newcomers a chance to catch up and the rest of you a chance to catch your breath. Today's challenge: Work on This Week's Most Challenging Challenge. Here are the Nannies' Challenges from this week:

• Take a Mommy or Daddy Time-Out: Did you give yourself a break last weekend? Are you taking a little time out for yourself every day? If not, do it this weekend! Even if it's 5 minutes a day, or just a quick cup of coffee with a friend, this will allow you to decompress and deal with the daily stress of parenthood.
• Compliment Your Kids: How are the compliments coming? Saying "I love you" and "I'm proud of you" is something your kids need to hear from you EVERY day. But also acknowledge their true accomplishments (when they REALLY do something), to give them a strong self-esteem.
• Acknowledge Mistakes and Move On: We're all human! So give your kids (and yourself!) a break and let them know that mistakes happen—and the best thing you can do it pick yourself up and move forward.
• Say Please and Thank You: Have you noticed your kids saying "please" and "thank you" more after this challenge? Maybe it's because YOU'RE saying it more often! Remembering manners is hard for adults and kids alike, so this weekend, make it a point to add a polite "please" to every request—and a grateful "thank you" whenever they comply. By letting the "pleases" and "thank yous" fly, you're setting a well-mannered example that your kids are sure to follow.

Parenting is hard work. Raising good kids is even harder. But Nanny Deb and I are your mommy allies to get you through this Boot Camp, and we want you all to be success stories! So, use today to really strengthen your hold on the challenges so far ... and be sure to leave your experiences in the comments so everyone can see how wonderfully you are doing!
And my question to you is: Which challenge is YOUR most challenging? What do you think you need to work on the hardest? Share your challenges in the comments below.

Meanwhile, be sure to check in with your mommy allies on the Child Behavior Message Board.