Hope for Parenting the “Me” Generation Baby Boomers were so bent on having better relationships with their children than they had with their own parents, they tended to set aside their primary role as parents. Their desire to be their…
Read More When did “I’m sorry” become a meaningless action? Thanks to nine-year-old Braydon, little Emily’s Barbie lost her head while getting ready for an evening out. But even as Braydon dutifully – and immediately – apologizes to Emily and her doll,…
Read More When a teen breaks the rules, they need a responsible adult to respond, not react. To respond is to offer calmness, honesty, love, grace and support while seeking to correct the misbehavior. However, to react is to become emotional, angry,…
Read More Are you connecting with your teenager or growing farther apart every day? Here are three things you can do to communicate and connect on a deeper level. So, what do you and your teen talk about? My guess is that…
Read More Two minutes after you see a blur of Oliver and Emma scream through the hallway, you hear a major crash in the living room. Immediately, you start berating the kids for running in the house. You head into the room,…
Read More Connecting With Your Teen Teens today are experts in the art of mass communications. They have every communications gadget imaginable and they communicate to friends and the whole world about things that might be better left unsaid. After all, does…
Read More Dealing With Holiday Conflicts in The Family The holiday season can be a joyful, happy time, particularly if you’ve come from a perfectly harmonious family. But since there is no such perfect family, the majority of people reading this probably…
Read More Parents dealing with wayward teens can get tired, beat up and worn down. They may think, “I’ve been pushing against this wall forever…I just can’t do it anymore.” But don’t quit… keep at it! Dealing with troubled teens can be…
Read More What is a Home Rules Contract? A home rules contract is a written set of expectations that adults have of their teens (and preteens). The contract includes basic rules, consequences and privileges. What is the Purpose of a Home Rules…
Read More Is it your goal in life to be your child’s best friend? If so, that’s honorable. But do you sometimes allow your friendship to take precedence over being a good parent? Out there on the far end of the relational…
Read More Focusing On What Is Important To Your Teen As a person, you no doubt understand the joy of others paying attention to things that matter to you. It feels good to discuss your passions with others, sharing some of the…
Read More For some parents, this season is merry and bright. For others, it’s like the “Santa gone wrong” photo with kids screaming and Santa looking like he needs a serious vacation. If your holiday is starting to look more like the…
Read More The relationship between siblings is one of the most significant contacts in a person’s life. Studies show that sibling relationships are by far the longest-lasting familial connections in a person’s life, outlasting the bond between people and their grandparents or…
Read More In 2006, a 14-year-old girl named Megan Meier took her own life as the direct result of what we now call “cyber-bullying”. Her mother was aware of her Internet activity and had taken realistic and active precautions to protect her.…
Read More For every parent who has ever felt the frustration of trying to feed a picky eater without losing their cool, or caving into unhealthy habits, this message is for you. Here’s what we know – in today’s world, there’s not…
Read More Let’s be honest. We love our kids to pieces, right? But parenting is exhausting – especially when we add in sports, extracurricular activities, family obligations, keeping the house in order, getting a semi-decent meal on the table, our own jobs…
Read More