On-the-job training makes all the difference

As any parent knows, small children seem to need attention right when you're trying to get other things done. Greenville couple Angie and Gary didn't expect parenting to be easy. But they also didn't expect it to be quite so hard! And since they both had well-established careers, the transition to parenthood brought some unexpected challenges – and a few new tips and strategies were just what they needed.

Pulled in all directions

Grace wanted Angie's attention from the minute her mother picked her up at daycare until bedtime, especially as Gary often had to work evenings. Busy with the demands of taking care of the house, cooking dinner and trying to get other things done, Angie felt like she didn't have time to give Grace the attention she craved. And she was exhausted.

"I was tired after work, but now I had this little person that needed me all the time."

She says she struggled to remain patient with her daughter in the evenings, especially around the time Grace was emerging from toddlerhood and becoming more vocal.

Common reactions to typical toddler behavior

Like many (many!) parents, Angie found herself either getting angry and frustrated with her daughter, or simply giving in to Grace's demands because she was too tired to deal with the battles. And she knew she wanted to change.

"We started having problems with Grace at bedtime. She would constantly call from her bedroom that she needed something, like a drink of water, to go potty, a favorite stuffed animal, her covers fixed, or another hug," says Angie.

At a loss, Angie turned to a Group Triple P program for guidance, including tips on how to give Grace just the right amount of attention at the right time. "When I started putting [what I learned] into practice, she stopped constantly interrupting me because she was satisfied she got my attention for a minute, and I felt much better knowing I wasn't ignoring her all the time," she says.

The new bedtime strategies are working

At bedtime, Angie and Gary began using strategies they learned through Triple P to help Grace go off to sleep without all the avoidance tactics that are very common in this age group. Angie believes Triple P can offer something useful to any parent, even someone who might not think they're struggling.

"Being a parent isn't easy. Triple P showed me different strategies to help me be more efficient, even in some of the areas where I thought I was doing okay—I learned how to do things more effectively, which just makes life easier."

Bring out the best in your child – and make your own life a little easier, too!

Triple P has helped thousands of families in NC, and now there's the Triple P Online program, ideal for busy parents, with 24/7 access and self-paced, interactive learning, anytime, anywhere. Doing Triple P Online can help you handle any parenting situation, including bedtime dramas, so that everyone feels better and enjoys life more!

Everyone's got theories. The differences is the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program^® is evidence-based and all the tips and strategies have been tested over decades of research.