A child psychologist shares the script they recommend most for tough parenting moments: "I have a good kid who's having a hard time." It separates the child's identity from their behavior, letting you stay compassionate without blame.
What are some of the most helpful scripts that you have not only used personally, but you find that most people go, hey, this really is some stuff that works?
I promise you, in any hard moment with your kid, instead of thinking about what to say to them, if you say to yourself, I have a good kid who's having a hard time— and yes, another version of that is, I am a good parent who is having a hard time— that is true. You are doing something very powerful in that you are literally separating identity I have a good kid from behavior. So that phrase, I have a good kid having a hard time, is a very simple way of holding this duality and kind of separating identity and behavior. So that to me is the number one script.
