Introduction

What Happened to the Home You Dreamed Of?

You love your children — deeply.
But if you’re honest, parenting doesn’t feel the way you hoped it would.
Some days it feels like your home is ruled by chaos — constant pushback, meltdowns, or emotional distance.
You try to stay calm. You try to stay connected.
But you often feel like you're either raising your voice to get through… or giving in just to keep things from falling apart.

If that’s you, you’re not alone.
And this book was written for you.

Who Put the Kids in Charge? isn’t about shame or blame — it’s about taking your role back.

Gently. Clearly. Confidently.

Through decades of experience, Sharon Cullington has worked with thousands of families who felt like things had quietly slipped out of balance.
The common thread?
Well-meaning parents, deeply invested in their children, overwhelmed by mixed messages, modern expectations, and the pressure to get it “right” — while their kids began calling the shots, emotionally and practically.

This book will help you:

• Understand why your child is acting out — and what they’re really asking for

• Recognize the subtle ways leadership gets lost — and how to step back into it with love

• Learn the power of calm authority — and why kids crave it more than control

• Set healthy boundaries without yelling, shame, or disconnection

• Rebuild your home as a space of mutual respect, peace, and lasting connection

This isn’t another rigid parenting formula.
It’s not about being stricter, or softer, or trying harder.

It’s about becoming the steady, loving leader your child actually needs — and finally creating the kind of family life that feels light, joyful, and safe again.

Whether your child is a toddler, a teen, or somewhere in between — this book is your permission to pause, reset, and begin again.

It’s not too late.
You’re not too far off track.
And your family is more ready than you think.