When parenting felt overwhelming, one mom found the tools—and the support—she needed to reconnect with her child and rediscover joy in family life.
When Tabatha’s middle child, Clayton, began acting out, she felt overwhelmed—and deeply alone.
A mother of three children between the ages of five and nine, Tabatha began noticing behaviour in Clayton that she couldn’t ignore.
“He started becoming physical with his siblings,” she recalls. “That’s when I knew something wasn’t right.”
At a pediatrician appointment, Clayton couldn’t sit still. “He was circling his chair, and that’s what tipped off the doctor,” says Tabatha. After evaluations from both home and school, he was diagnosed with ADHD.
“I had so much fear and guilt, and there were a lot of sleepless nights just worrying about him,” she says.
Then came a recommendation that changed everything: the Strongest Families Institute (SFI) parenting program.
“I was nervous at first,” Tabatha admits. “I thought maybe they’d judge my parenting. But from the very first call, I felt supported.” Her SFI Support Coach quickly became a trusted guide—someone she could be honest with, laugh with, and celebrate successes with.
Together, they tackled challenges one step at a time. Tabatha learned how her own self-care was essential to her children’s well-being—and started focusing on filling her own cup. She practiced new skills like using praise intentionally, creating a reward system for Clayton, and using “change warnings” to help him transition between activities without feeling overwhelmed.
Tabatha added a Calming Corner at her home, as dedicated space where Clayton could go when he was feeling frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed to self-regulate. She also started using phrases like ‘Think before you speak’ and asking, ‘How do you feel?’ These changes helped her slow down and connect with him, and her other children.
Quickly, Tabatha saw her relationship with Clayton transform.
“Within a couple of days, I started to notice a difference. He was like a completely different child. I use the skills I learned from SFI with all three of my kids now—it’s just become part of our family life.”
The biggest proof of change? “I can go grocery shopping with all three kids and actually enjoy it,” she laughs. “Clayton pushes the cart, and they all behave. A trip that used to be stressful is now peaceful. I never thought I’d say that.”
Tabatha still uses the tools she learned every day. And she shares the program with other parents who feel stuck, just like she once did. She wants other parents to learn how the right words and tools can give families the confidence to parent in a way that really works for them.
“SFI has helped in ways that I never would have imagined,” she says. “They have been a true blessing to our family.”
Her advice for other families facing behavioural challenges: You’re not alone, and there is hope. This program works.