• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Family MattersPractical Parenting Blog

  • Home
  • Series
  • About Ronit Baras
  • Books by Ronit Baras
    • Motivating Kids
    • Be Special, Be Yourself for Teenagers
    • Reflections
    • In the Outback with Jasmine Banks
    • The Will
    • * Your Cart
    • * Secure Checkout
  • Contact
    • Join Us

Home » Family Matters

Family Matters Category

Family-related posts: kids, teens, parenting, marriage and home

Make Every Day a Special Day

Special day - a happy family on the beach

Growing up in a family that can’t enjoy the present and thinks joy can only come later, one day (maybe!) can do lots of damage to your kids. Not enjoying the things you have, focusing on trying to impress others, and saving everything “for a special day” takes a lot of energy.

This was the family I grew up in, and I had to change it, for my sake and the sake of my children.

Using my own medicine and walking the talk, I have used my own techniques of writing goals and changing attitude from “One special day” to “Every day is a special day”, and I set new family goals that changed our family life forever.

Here is my story.

This post is part 7 of 7 in the series Family Goals

Read Make Every Day a Special Day »

Published: January 2, 2025 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: June 20, 2025In: Parenting Tags: gratitude, love, choice, happiness, positive attitude tips, focus, school, touch

It’s Hard to Say “I’m Sorry” When You’re Not

Sad smiley

Kids sometimes do things that others don’t like. Sometimes, they break things and even hurt others. It’s important to help them understand what happened, but parents should never force them to say, “I’m sorry”.

I think the idea of saying “sorry” is distorted because of social “expectations” that if someone is hurt, we must have done something to cause it. This makes parents “teach” their kids to say “sorry” even if it comes without actual “sorrow”.

It’s very easy to see it with young children. They take a game away from another kid (sibling), the other kid cries. Immediately, the parents scold them and force them to go to the other kid and say they’re sorry.

This is humiliating. It plants in those kids the idea that saying “sorry” is admitting guilt, even if they don’t think they’re guilty. And it builds up and stays with the kids.

Read It’s Hard to Say “I’m Sorry” When You’re Not »

Published: March 31, 2021 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: March 31, 2021In: Parenting Tags: kids / children, acceptance / judgment / tolerance, behavior / discipline, feeling, guilt, emotional development, practical parenting / parents, responsibility, values, change

How to Have Better Communication with Children

Mother and 2 daughters

Communication works like a bee. It can produce honey or sting. It’s true. Our communication is the tool we have to connect or destroy relationship. To be better parents, we need to develop better communication with our children.

When our kids are born, they have full trust in us. They trust us with their life. They have to, because without us, they would die. Literally.

Over the years, that trust is gradually lost. Not because the kids grow out of it, but because the parents change the way they communicate with their children.

Read How to Have Better Communication with Children »

Published: March 24, 2021 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: March 24, 2021In: Parenting Tags: sarcasm, kids / children, behavior / discipline, personal development / personal growth / personality development / self improvement, guilt, emotional development, communication, practical parenting / parents, how to, trust, communication styles, relationships / marriage

Better Family Relationships: How to Build Trust

Group of hands together

Family relationships can be hard, let’s be honest. We have a relationship with everyone we come in contact with. Some relationships are short. Some are long. Some are intimate, and others not so much. In every relationship, our actions affect the dynamic. We can’t just do or say whatever we want, whenever we want.

Why? Because we don’t exist in a bubble. Our words have meaning.

It’s amazing how many people are never exposed to the concept of effective and thoughtful communication. I find people of all ages coming to my leadership camps and saying, “How has no one ever taught me this?”

Read Better Family Relationships: How to Build Trust »

Published: March 3, 2021 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: January 24, 2023In: Parenting, Relationships / Marriage Tags: acceptance / judgment / tolerance, personal development / personal growth / personality development / self improvement, practical parenting / parents, sibling rivalry, communication, gratitude, siblings, how to, trust, family matters, listening

Domestic Violence is Devastating. We Need to Stop It!

Domestic violence scene

As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every part of our daily life. Work, school and social engagements were adjusted to follow the restrictions. But the most troubling change is the huge increase in domestic violence all around the world.

Domestic violence has been damaging our society in more ways than COVID-19 ever will. But no one thinks we should shut down schools, states, airlines, restaurants, gyms or businesses until we eradicate it from our society. And we’re going to pay for this long after COVID-19 is gone.

Domestic violence is primarily directed at women and children. Why? Because they are more vulnerable.

Read Domestic Violence is Devastating. We Need to Stop It! »

Published: February 10, 2021 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: August 7, 2023In: Parenting, Relationships / Marriage Tags: personal development / personal growth / personality development / self improvement, practical parenting / parents, communication, emotional intelligence, violence, change, society, aggressive, bullying, self confidence / self esteem / self worth

Negative Emotions: How to Really Help Your Kids Manage Them

Young man looking lonely and upset

As parents, it’s natural for us to want to keep our children from feeling what we perceive as negative emotions. We want to keep them from suffering. But as hard as it is to admit, by doing so, we often do more harm than good.

Most people grow up thinking that our purpose in life is to avoid suffering. But it isn’t!

We aren’t supposed to avoid suffering, we’re supposed to manage it. We should never fight it, or even try to control it. We must live with it and find ways to use it to our advantage.

Read Negative Emotions: How to Really Help Your Kids Manage Them »

Published: January 27, 2021 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: November 28, 2022In: Parenting, Personal Development Tags: practical parenting / parents, communication, emotional intelligence, how to, listening, compassion, kids / children, acceptance / judgment / tolerance, empathy, emotions, feeling

How to See Your Kids Beyond the Behavior

Boy lying on the couch looking bored

As a parent, your kids’ behavior can sometimes drive you nuts. But looking at the behavior is misleading. You need to look beyond the behavior.

Most parents will tell you that parenting is one of the hardest “professions” in the world. Yet, we never got any training for it. In the past year, it’s been even harder. It’s been a difficult, overwhelming experience for parents and to their children too.

The best way to see how kids reacted to the challenge of COVID-19 restrictions and online learning, all you have to do is watch their behavior. When children feel overwhelmed, they immediately start to show dysfunctional behavior. Trust me, if they could, they would do things differently. Just as you would…

Read How to See Your Kids Beyond the Behavior »

Published: January 12, 2021 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: June 5, 2023In: Parenting

Manipulating Your Kids Will Make You a Good Parent

Father kissing giggling daughter

Many parents feel uncomfortable about the idea of manipulation. They get upset when their children manipulate them, and feel uncomfortable about manipulating them in return. But I think it’s a valuable parenting tool.

The word “manipulation” has negative connotations and implies bad intentions. But in most cases, we don’t manipulate others to harm them. Quite the opposite.

In my parenting programs, I’m amazed by how many parents don’t think they have the right to make their children think or do some things. These parents don’t seem to understand their role.

What?!

Read Manipulating Your Kids Will Make You a Good Parent »

Published: December 30, 2020 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: December 30, 2020In: Parenting Tags: success, emotional intelligence, how to, role model, behavior / discipline, practical parenting / parents

Helpful Staycation Ideas to Make Your COVID-19 Holidays Great

Staycation: suitcase with a laptop screen containing a home and a yard

The holidays are coming and this year, 2020, isn’t a normal year. We can’t go on vacation the way we did in previous years. So, what can we do? We can have a staycation. But first, we need some staycation ideas.

With COVID-19 looming, limited money, closed attractions, and restricted events and restaurants, a proper holiday seems difficult, even impossible. So, we either have a staycation or go nuts.

A staycation isn’t staying at home. It’s having a vacation, and enjoying our time, at home, or close to home. But how do we do it?

Read Helpful Staycation Ideas to Make Your COVID-19 Holidays Great »

Published: December 23, 2020 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: December 23, 2020In: Parenting Tags: practical parenting / parents, how to, choice, christmas, holidays, travel, vacation, activity, fun, kids / children, health / wellbeing

How to Overcome Fight, Flight & Freeze in Relationships

Little girl looking happy and excited

There’s some amount of stress in every relationship, and we respond to it through Fight, Flight or Freeze. So how can we overcome these responses, relax and stay together?

Watching babies and toddlers playing “hide and seek” can teach us a lot about the human mind and how we can improve the relationship game.

Our granddaughter is 3 years old, and we look after her once or twice a week (lucky us). She loves to play “hide and seek”, and we all love to watch her having fun.

For a long time, we had to nominate a person to hide with her, so she would get the hang of it. Because whenever we asked, “Where is Ayla?” she would answer from her hiding place…

Hilarious, right?!

Read How to Overcome Fight, Flight & Freeze in Relationships »

Published: December 9, 2020 by Ronit Baras
Last modified: December 9, 2020In: Parenting Tags: emotional intelligence, how to, fear, trust, relationships / marriage, conflict, anger, aggressive, stress / pressure, personal development / personal growth / personality development / self improvement

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 94
  • Go to Next Page »

Get Happiness by Email

Sign up to receive posts by email and get my free mini-course Seven Emails with Seven Secrets for Seven Weeks to boost your personal development




    Join Us on Social Media

    Facebook logo Twitter logo Linkedin logo Pinterest logo RSS feed icon

    Books by Ronit Baras

    • What motivates your child? Read Motivating Kids by Ronit Baras Motivating Kids From: $9.95
    • Reflections by Ronit Baras Reflections From: $5.99
    • Be Special Be Yourself for Teenagers by Ronit Baras Be Special, Be Yourself for Teenagers From: $5.99
    • In the Outback with Jasmine Banks by Ronit Baras In the Outback with Jasmine Banks From: $5.99
    • The Will by Ronit Baras The Will From: $5.99

    Be Happy in LIFE logo
    Book your private life coaching with Ronit Baras and learn how to be happy in life

    Girl speaking at student leadership programLeaders are not born. They are made. Bring this Student Leadership Program to your primary school or high school and you will create a community of empowered, inspired student leaders, parents and teachers.

    Related Links

    • Be Happy in LIFE – Life Coaching
    • Noff Baras – Screen Actor & Model
    • Personal Growth Web
    • The Motivational Speaker
    • Tsoof Baras – percussionist, composer and producer

    Primary Sidebar

    Your Cart

    Speaker Bookings

    Ronit Baras - Practical Parenting Blogger
    Book Ronit as a Speaker for Your event »

    Ready to be happy?

    Happy woman holding a cup in the snow
    Be empowered and set your spirit free!

    Engage Ronit as Your Life Coach »

    Give to Receive

    Kiva - loans that change lives

    Contact Us · Subscribe · Terms of Use / Privacy Statement · Return & Refund Policy · Sitemap

    Copyright © 2025 Be Happy in LIFE · Built and powered by Get Business Online

    Secure HTTPS

    • Home
    • Series
    • About Ronit Baras
    • Books by Ronit Baras
      ▼
      • Motivating Kids
      • Be Special, Be Yourself for Teenagers
      • Reflections
      • In the Outback with Jasmine Banks
      • The Will
      • * Your Cart
      • * Secure Checkout
    • Contact
      ▼
      • Join Us