Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is for every mother; every baby. The mother’s skin is the baby’s natural environment, and both physically and emotionally the healthiest place for the baby to be, says KMC researcher, Dr Nils Bergman, of Cape Town.

Holly H. is frustrated with her husband's parenting: "It seems that every time he has to deal with the kids he ends up getting into power struggles/arguments with them. One of the specific things that I hear him doing is telling the kids, 'If you don't . . . then you won't.' Instead of the more positive 'After you . . . then you can . . .' They react negatively to this and are much more likely to refuse to do whatever he's telling them to do than if he would say it the second way."

It was during my 13-year-old's annual checkup that the doctor informed me that my parenting days are numbered. "You no longer have the greatest influence over your teenager. In fact, you come in fourth behind friends, teachers, and his doctor," he told me glibly. While I mentally threw a tantrum over his blasé inditement on my role as a parent, I considered whether I was willing to tuck my tail and move to the back of the line.

Admittedly, as I've moved into the role of parenting a teenager, the time that we spend together has been more restricted. Of course, that limits my overall influence, but I'm completely unwilling to watch from the back and hope for the best as my kids traverse their most formative years. Fortunately, by a heap of dumb luck, I have built some habits prior to the "dreaded teen years" that I hope will serve to carry my influence just a bit further and create a positive relationship with my teens

Like every other mother on the planet, I screw up. A lot. But also like most moms and dads, I strive to do right by my children, and that means having the guts to apologize when I make those big mistakes. In fact, I'm convinced that being willing to say I'm sorry—and mean it—makes me a better mom. Here's why.

The key to smart discipline is simple: Teach your child how to control her own behavior so you don't have to.

Kids Can Discipline Themselves

My friend Emily has three amazingly well-behaved children. They put their toys away when she tells them to, go to bed without a fuss, and even settle their own disputes. I actually witnessed her 3-year-old son calmly ask for a truck back from a friend who had yanked it out of his hands.