The exact words to say in that rising moment — when you can feel the storm coming and nothing you normally try seems to help.
Your child isn't giving you a hard time. They're having one. These five phrases work because they stop accidentally triggering the resistance you're trying to avoid.
Send it to my inbox. Practical, no-nonsense tips for parents in the thick of it. No spam.
Heads up: your guide lands in your inbox in the next couple of minutes. (Check spam if it's not there.)
I've just sent it over. It'll land in the next couple of minutes. (Check your spam folder if you don't see it.)
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What's inside
Five phrases. The exact words. Why each one works — and when to use it.
Replaces the command that triggers resistance — with something that has nothing to push against.
↳ Inside the guideA brain that feels understood lowers its alarm. This phrase does that in one sentence.
↳ Inside the guideHands control back to your child while the thing still gets done. No more digging in.
↳ Inside the guideThree words that make it you and them against the problem — instead of you against each other.
↳ Inside the guideFor when the storm is already here. Fewer words, said this way, give them something steady to borrow from.
↳ Inside the guideUnmeltdown is built on behavioural science and NHS-informed practice — translated into plain English for parents who are doing their best in the hardest moments. Written by a parent and behavioural practitioner, for parents in the thick of it.
Want to go further? The Power Struggle Solution is the full 57-page guide — scripts for every flashpoint: mornings, the school run, mealtimes, homework, bedtime, screens, and the repair afterwards.
Get the full guide — £19 →