Children don't automatically know when and how to speak up. They don't understand the appropriate times to interrupt. Nor do they often demonstrate the skills that will enable them to speak up effectively. They don't understand the power of words and how to use them to create change in their lives. The most effective way for children to learn when and how to speak up is for you to teach them.

Read more: Affirming Your Child's Voice

"I'm a terrible mother, it's my fault, I'm ruining my children." What mother has not had defeating thoughts like these? I recently attended a discussion group about the "myths of motherhood" at Mental Fitness Center in downtown Rochester, Michigan. A group of various professionals intermingled with new and expecting mothers to give a face to some of the irrational expectations that mothers feel pressured to live up to. We created quite a list including things like "I should always have a clean home; I should cook dinner happily every night; and I should never feel angry, sad or lonely."

Read more: Motherhood Myths

I'm not talking about food labels…I'm talking about your child. Whether your child is homeschooled, in private or public school, your child is being labeled…by you, by teachers, by other parents.  It's what we do because it sometimes seems helpful to think about or talk about kids when we put them into categories and roles.  You do this at home when you label your own child as a Picky Eater or as Stubborn.  Teachers label children Cooperative or Talkative.  Sometimes in order for a child to receive the extra support he may need in a school system he is officially labeled as Learning Disabled, Emotionally Imparied or ADHD.  I can't tell you how many kids over the years have told me, as a way of defining themselves, "I have ADHD."  or "I have a Learning Disability."  They have assumed the identity that was put upon them by the adults in their lives. 

Read more: To Label or Not To Label?