Jennifer Kolari

My name is Jennifer Kolari and I am really looking forward to answering questions and sharing my method of Connected Parenting (http://connectedparenting.com/) with all of you. I am a family therapist with a practice in Toronto and San Diego, and a mother of three.

My 3 year old is a very picky eater. She does not want to eat anything but raisin toast, peanut butter or nutella sandwiches, or pizza. Will she outgrow this? How do I get her to try new foods. Every time I suggest that she eat something different, she actually looks frightened, she whines about it, and sometimes even starts to cry. What should I do? Few things can trigger a Mom’s anxiety more than a child who will not eat. Yet one of the...

Growing up I played a ton of sports, started working at a young age, was always very independent. I learned the value of a dollar and planning for my future and overall was a pretty smart cookie! I had awesome friends (and still do), family …well every family is dysfunctional because really if you weren’t it wouldn’t be normal LOL. I’ve always been really close with my parents…Daddy’s little girl who yes, was spoiled. But I...

About six months ago, a toddler who is still nursing started at my daughter’s daycare. Alexandra's teacher told me that she was very curious. Baby’s mom would nurse her in the morning in the toddler room and Alexandra would sit beside them and watch. When I picked her up that first day, she told me about it, very shyly and she led me to believe that she remembered nursing. It was very cute and it made me happy to think that she still...

Well... I have a comedian on my hands! You don’t realize how much kids actually take in but literally they are sponges. One day about a week ago I asked my daughter, “What is this” (thinking she would just say “duck” and then life would go on). Well no... she told me to “Google it.” I replied with a “WHHHAT?” and she repeated herself as if I fell off another planet. I laughed for a good 15 minutes after this mini convo...

People should really stop asking me if I’m pregnant. Especially when I have a glass of wine in my hand - a ‘friend’ just this weekend at a party asked me this. Definitely not while I’m holding a massive box of tampons - a complete stranger asked me last month at Costco. This really happened. I have a closet full of similar scenarios, and some fantastic responses from me, but I don’t really want to get into it as...

The start of feeding baby solids excites most parents, but for some, takes them to a place of uncertainty and even panic. When a friend of mine suggested to me that I offer cooking classes for new moms, my first thought was “Why, it’s so easy to make baby food?” Her reply was “…well I don’t know how”. After doing some market research (or talking to everyone I knew about the idea), I found that she wasn’t the only one...

Man... seriously... my kid is 17months going on 17! From eyebrow rising and rolling her eyes to dirty looks and “No(s)”... you would swear she’s a 17-year-old teenager. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is going through this or will be the last to do so either... but still. It really sucks. She says “NO!” to everything and anyone including the dog... who honestly...doesn’t deserve to be yelled at by her. While at times,...

Whoever said being a full time working Mom was easy lied through their teeth! Man... it’s hard. I have a "regular” full time job, then a full time...plus overtime job…that is unpaid and my manager is 17 months old. I also have another full time job(s) as a wife, scheduler, chef, maid andsocial media and reality TV junkie...the list goes on and on. Oh…and I can’t forget about being a blogger and product tester too...but that’s...

"Mommy, do you know the S-word?" my 7-year-old son asked me the other day. Panic filled my mind. S-word? There's no way he should know the S-word. My husband and I worked very hard to keep him from learning what we consider hardcore swear words that a 7-year-old should not know or use. Okay, I said to myself, keep calm. "Why do you ask?" I said, taking a deep breath. "Because all my friends say it all the time, and I tell them not to,...

Play in the water with your baby…in the tub or in a kiddie pool in the backyard. Remember children learn vocabulary best when you related the spoken words and signs you are showing them to sensory items, items that they are feeling while they play and interact with. While playing or bathing your child, imitate his sounds and movements. Splash in the water and show your baby the sign for WATER. Pour a little bit of water onto your little...