Solutions April 2018 | Page 69

Sometimes your needs have to come first. So pamper yourself a little. Find small indulgences that make you feel like a million bucks even if they only cost $7.50. Get takeout delivered every once in a while, give yourself a pedicure, enjoy a long shower, or go to a free concert with friends. Develop a babysitting co-op so each of you has a night off every so often to do anything you want. Budget some time and money for your own simple pleasures. Most of all, don’t feel guilty about it. Taken from Making Children Mind without Losing Yours by Kevin Leman. Copyright © 2018 by Kevin Leman. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group (http://www. bakerpublishinggroup.com). RATE THIS ARTICLE What does all this have to do with reality discipline? It’s a starting point for you. For such discipline to work, you need to be a strong entity in the family, and that means taking care of yourself. Every parent deserves some time off. Dr. Kevin Leman Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, speaker, and educator. He’s a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of more than 50 books, including The Birth Order Book and Have a New Kid by Friday. Dr. Leman has made thousands of house calls through radio and television programs, such as TODAY, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, FOX & Friends, The View, and CNN. He lives with his wife, Sande, in Arizona; they have five children and four grandchildren. Solutions • 69