Posts by Betsy

Does Fair Mean Equal?

Does Fair Mean Equal?

Ever since we were little, my older sister Colleen has been concerned with "fairness." She was aware of every discrepancy between the two of us, from the amount of attention we got from our parents to the number of apple slices we each had on our plates at snack time. Since we were a Language of Listening® household, my parents used Success Training to turn this hyper-awareness into a...

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Why I Let Kids Cry

Why I Let Kids Cry

When you hear a child crying, what is your first reaction? If it's a child you know, you might have an impulse to rush to their aid and fix the problem for them ASAP. If you can't do that, you may feel the need to do something to at least distract them or cheer them up. If you follow our blog or have taken our classes, you have probably heard about our technique for facilitating tantrums. In a...

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I Love My Body (Seriously!)

I Love My Body (Seriously!)

Growing up as a cis girl in 21st century America, I had my fair share of body issues. I actually didn't notice or start worrying about my weight until I was 14, which makes me one of the lucky ones (I knew an elementary schooler on a self-imposed diet). I distinctly remember looking in the mirror at age 12, and thinking how pretty I was, because being perfect exactly the way I am has always been...

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Q & A: Contrary Child

Q & A: Contrary Child

One of our readers, Jab, asked a great question in a comment on "The Importance of Validation" about situations where SAYing WHAT YOU SEE doesn't seem to work. As often happens here at Language of Listening, what started as a quick response turned in to a full-blown blog post! Jab asked: "I’m not having much success with SWYS. I must be missing something about it. For example when my daughter...

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On the Verge of a Breakthrough

On the Verge of a Breakthrough

If you've read any of my blog posts, you know that I am a lover of words, languages, and all things communication. In general, I am very well-spoken and able to communicate and express myself with clarity and ease. I love words and always find the perfect one for nearly every scenario, often supplying others with just the right word or words when they are fumbling to express themselves. But for...

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