Praise for Parent School with Polly

I just want to thank you. I am weeping as I write this note to you. I am on deck to consume hours of Vimeo, your October series, podcasts, and various other accessories. I am all in. I have struggled with reactivity to no avail. I was never like this before my twins were born. Countless hours and dollars thrown at therapy, online programs, books, supplements, etc. I grew up with a reactive, angry, explosive single mom who terrified me. To find myself behaving with anger and explosiveness with my own daughters triggered immense shame and guilt. Sure, I did the repairs that she could not do, but I don't want to need repairs! I want to do better!

In under an hour, you offered concrete tools, imagery, and insights that are already making a difference in my relationships with my twin daughters and with myself. I feel hope. I feel the promise of forging the meaningful, respectful, loving and connected relationships that I so deeply want and have feared I had already ruined. I finally feel like I am on a path.

[At one point in the “Holy Shift! Finding Your Cool When You’ve Lost It” video] I stopped the video and wept. Tears of gratitude and grief. And the first feelings of confidence that I can do this all differently.

Your gifts and generosity humble me. I am just getting started on this journey with you. It is likely I will write another heartfelt note like this one. I don't need a response. I just want you to know you changed my life yesterday.

- Cindy, mother of twin daughters

Just wanted to let you know that when I got home last night, I went down to my daughter’s room, ignored the mess on her floor, ignored my desire to tell her to shower and was just quiet. When she said she had no homework, she grabbed a big jar of change she has been saving and decided to dump it and sort it on her floor. I asked, “Do you want help?” She said “Sure, here is how I want you to do it.” I said “Ok..” We chatted and noticed how many types of quarters there are from so many different states. I appreciated so much your message from last night to just be quiet and not judge and let go of some control. She then got up this morning and made her own breakfast and we made it to the bus 10 min early. Go figure. I’m really in awe of your work and appreciate your ability to share stories from your past, which I can really relate to. It’s beyond helpful. Profound thanks.

- Kate, mother of 3 adolescents

I was in your class today. I really appreciated your authenticity, vulnerability, humor and generosity in sharing your knowledge, Polly. My children loved that I went to “parent school” today. They also understand I am working on my homework, which is not to do for them what they can do for themselves. And yes, generally I am lugging both my bag and theirs - turns out it was a reflex for them to hand it and me to take it. That shifted today. I laid out a blanket at my son's soccer game away from the crowd and was totally present with my daughter. I did not put her under constant interrogation - we colored quietly and after 20 minutes she crawled up on my lap and started talking - without me badgering her for information.  It was such a necessary change in my habitual way of being with her. I look SO forward to the rest of the classes!

– Sabrina in Marin

Before we found Polly, we were constantly yelling and screaming, not connected and really not enjoying our family life (and I was daydreaming about my secret escape). With some regular exposure to parent school, the culture of our family life changed drastically for the better... 

- Maria in Larkspur

When our awareness grew about what we were doing to contribute to the problem, we stopped blaming our kid and our approach naturally changed, which kicked off positive change everywhere at home.

- Ellen in Corte Madera

Once we started applying Polly’s Method, Our kids seemed to change overnight - or maybe it was us that changed? Whatever it was, we all calmed down a lot... We became parents who could tell our kids the truth without scaring them, shaming them or controlling them. Best thing we ever did for our family – bar none.

- Scott in Mill Valley

We were essentially fearful parents always hoping for an easier time. Now we are parents who have learned how to make plans for hard moments rather than bracing for a hard moment that’s coming. We are SO much more relaxed. I think [Polly] may have prevented a heart attack in addition to making our lives infinitely better.  

- Deanna in San Francisco

We learned how to not take what our kids were doing so personally which made it possible to see them as adorable and normal when they tried to push the boundaries. It made all the difference. And the hierarchy thing [Polly teaches] -major game changer. My parents noticed the difference right away commenting, “It feels like I’ve stepped into a completely different house. What happened? It’s so pleasant.”

-Grateful Couple in Marin Co.