Looking for help with your parenting skills?
So was I.

Four years ago, when I adopted our son Mark from the Ukraine, we learned many unexpected lessons. As you can imagine, taking on a 17-month-old boy who couldn't walk or talk (much less in English) came with plenty of challenges—even after extensive preparation. We first mentored a family for five years through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we took countless classes for new adoptive parents. There were still surprises.

Because Mark had spent his entire life in an orphanage, his development was delayed. We turned to a series of workshops developed by University of South Florida child psychologist Dr. Kathleen Armstrong. Dr. Kathi is an acclaimed scholar, therapist, and member of NCSP, CEC-DEC and PAS. We learned quickly that Mark's actions took root in our own poor communication skills. offered conflicting messages and inconsistent rules. The solution started with us: monkey see, monkey do. It wasn't easy, but learning ten basic skills literally changed our lives. The result? An overnight turnaround in his behavior. Positive response to parental communication.

Learning ten basic skills literally changed our lives.

Today, Mark is 5 years old and has measured at 1st and 2nd grade curriculum levels. He is leading a happy and healthy life, even mentoring his younger friends from time to time. To help share our lessons learned, I created a series of DVDs called 20 Minutes to Effective Parenting and a company called milestonesforlife. In the first DVD, Communication Skills, you'll learn the ten skills that helped me become a better parent. As I grow in wisdom along with Mark, I hope to share more insights with you through additional DVDs, workshops, and my blog. Remember, your child is watching you for guidance. At milestones for life, we're here to help.