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When I was out shopping today, I stopped by the toy aisles to check out the clearance sales. A Christmas music box caught my eye. It was the perfect gift for my three-year-old daughter. Now, you might say, "It's April! Christmas is eight months away!" True! But if I take the time to look at those sale items now, I can often find things for a fraction of their retail cost. I simply hide them until the end of the year. Gift giving is, in my opinion, a year-round endeavor. Shopping ahead decreases the stress involved in the holidays and saves me money in the long run. I chip away at my gift list instead of trying to master it all during the month of December.

You know, another great way to decrease stress during the holidays and all year long is to recognize the gifts you have received from Love and Logic. Here are what I consider to be the 12 Gifts of Love and Logic:

ONE: Every time you use an enforceable statement, your credibility improves.

TWO: Every time you ask your children a question to guide their thinking, their brains grow a little bit.

THREE: Every time you tell your kids that you love them too much to argue, there is more peace in your home.

FOUR: Every time you use empathy with your kids, you improve your relationship with them.

FIVE: Every time you give your kids choices about things that don't affect you, you help them feel powerful.

SIX: Every time you don't jump in and solve your children's problems, they actually solve one for themselves.

SEVEN: Every time you don't warn your oppositional child, he/she learns more from the consequence you set.

EIGHT: Every time you use an enforceable statement instead of a lecture, you send the message that your kid is already smart.

NINE: Every time you delay the consequences, you make smarter decisions and teach your children not to act in anger.

TEN: Every time you hold your child accountable for a chore, you make them an important part of the family group.

ELEVEN: Every time you hold your child responsible for their own consequences, you teach them a little more about the real world.

The twelfth and final gift I will mention is the fact that every one of the first eleven gifts started with the words, "Every time you…" Realistically, we all know that parenting doesn't change overnight. Not even after many nights! Stressors, distractions, habits and other influences can get in the way of our progress. Yet, "Every time you…" do use it, those exciting things I mentioned occur. Instead of dwelling on all the times you don't use your techniques, try to notice all the times you do use them. Each and every time counts! Parenting with Love and Logic is a gift. "Every time you…" use it there are benefits to you and your family.

Instead of trying to master it all at once, chip away at it one gift at a time. You'll find it decreases your stress and worry…just like Christmas shopping in April.

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