When the holiday season gracefully makes its entrance, the Altman family, consisting of Josh, Heather, Lexi, and Ace, truly goes all out. Let's take a peek into their festive world.

Holiday Fun Beginnings

On November 14th, Heather Altman shared with the world how her family is already immersed in the holiday spirit. In an Instagram Story video, she playfully joked about being "conned" into making a gingerbread house that evening. Her little ones were seen putting the novelty sweet treat together and using various objects to dry it. As the video ended, Heather exclaimed with excitement, "The holidays have begun!" It was truly a heartwarming sight. In another Story, she captured her kids dancing with a giant moving Grinch figure while Christmas music played in the background. Over this adorable video, she wrote about how they were waiting for the gingerbread house to dry.

Gingerbread House Adventures

Making a gingerbread house is an age-old holiday tradition, and the Altman kids took it to a whole new level. They carefully selected different candies and decorations to adorn their creation. Lexi, in her pink pajamas with a Christmas-themed print, added a touch of charm to the scene. Heather watched with pride as her children's creativity flowed. It was a moment filled with laughter and joy. After the gingerbread house was assembled, they patiently waited for it to dry, each one eager to see the final result. This simple activity became a memory that will last a lifetime.

Holiday Decorating Traditions

In December 2022, Josh and Heather Altman opened up to The Daily Dish about their holiday preparations. Heather shared how this time of year is her favorite. She also mentioned how her husband learned to "embrace the holidays" as their household celebrates a variety of festivals including Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Chrismukkah, and New Year's. Over the years, Heather has had to adapt her holiday decorating style. She explained, "I've had to learn to give up the red, green, and gold decorations and embrace the blue and silver and white decorations." She even expressed the idea of launching a Hanukkah decoration line as she believes there aren't enough options. Their home is adorned with 10 trees, both Hanukkah trees inside and outside. It's a sight to behold.

Backyard Winter Delights

Heather and Josh also spoke about their unique tradition of filling their backyard with snow. Heather described it as "the best thing ever." They enjoy sledding and building snowmen together. It's a tradition that they plan to continue for the rest of their lives, no matter what. The snow creates a magical atmosphere in their backyard, adding to the holiday cheer. Whether it's sliding down the snowy slopes or creating snowmen with their children, these moments are cherished.

Parenting is a journey filled with challenges and lessons. Becky Kennedy, known as Dr. Becky, emphasizes that there is no such thing as perfect parenting. Instead, she focuses on effective parenting through what she calls "sturdy leadership." Through her coaching company Good Inside, she helps parents understand their role and their kids, enabling them to build the skills necessary for a fulfilling life.

Unlock Your Child's Resilience with Sturdy Leadership

Pick Your Battles Wisely

Parents often face the dilemma of choosing between their kids' short-term happiness and their long-term well-being. Kennedy admits to sometimes giving in to her kids' desires for immediate pleasure, like having ice cream for breakfast. However, she emphasizes that parents must be "long-term greedy" and consider their children's future. Life is hard, and kids need to learn how to handle difficult situations. By practicing skills over and over again, they gain the ability to overcome challenges and become more resilient.

For example, when faced with a choice between allowing a child to have a moment of struggle or immediately providing a solution, parents should choose the former. This helps children develop the coping skills needed to navigate life's obstacles.

Refrain from Fixing Everything for Your Kids All the Time

Difficult situations that teach resilience are abundant in a child's life. Whether it's a puzzle they can't solve or math homework that gives them trouble, these moments present opportunities for growth. However, it is challenging for parents to resist the urge to fix everything for their kids.

If parents always step in to solve problems, children learn to rely on immediate solutions rather than developing their own problem-solving skills. For instance, if a child is left out of a party and the parent throws them a bigger party, the child's body learns to expect immediate solutions. This pattern can continue into adulthood, where a delayed flight might lead to a tantrum and a demand for the parent to rebook the flight.

Here's How to Wire for Resilience

Two key ingredients for wiring kids for resilience are validation and capability. Validation involves acknowledging a child's emotions, such as saying "Oh, that stinks." This simple phrase can go a long way in making a child feel heard and understood.

After validation, parents should focus on reflecting capability. For example, if a child is struggling with a puzzle, the parent can say, "I know this puzzle is tricky. Take a deep breath and you can stick with it." By doing this, parents help children build the confidence and perseverance needed to overcome challenges.

In conclusion, effective parenting through sturdy leadership is about making choices that prioritize a child's long-term resilience. By picking battles wisely, refraining from fixing everything, and wiring for resilience, parents can help their children become successful, confident adults.