8 ways to bridge the great divide between you, your teen, and social media. One of the most common concerns I hear from mothers of tweens and teens is the fear and frustration regarding the negative impact social media is having on their kids and the relationships with them. Technology is here to stay, whether we like it or not….
Read More
We have a very smart and lovable standard poodle named Calvin. As smart as he is, he has never understood that the passing cars were not going to take him for a ride. The moment our front door would open, he would bolt for the street, hoping for his opportunity for a clean getaway. We would yell and chase…
Read More
Do you focus on the positive in your adolescent? Do you affirm them for what they are doing well? How about showing appreciation and gratitude? Are your words kind and positive? This week, I want to challenge you (and me) to take one whole day and pay attention to how many times we say something positive versus how many…
Read More
Identifying the roles our children play to help them thrive. We all fall into the trap of labeling our kids. One child is challenging and continually stirring up conflict while another child is easy and agreeable, gets good grades and is a delight to have around. Then there is the child that is social, diffuses conflict with humor, and yet…
Read More
6 ways to constructively complain to build connection. You may be wondering: what in the world? You are actually telling me to complain? Yes, I am. Let me explain. When I was first married, I had the belief that happily married couples rarely fought. I figured that they were so in love and accepting of each other that issues seldom…
Read More
5 Ways to Be More Playful at Home When I was a child, my mom would often tell me to “Go play”. Off I would run—riding my bike, running through the neighborhood, feeling totally alive and not having a care in the world. I was blissfully free in the moment, the wind in my hair, pretending and playing for hours…
Read More
6 Practices that Build Connection. Blame. Criticism. Shouting matches. Silent treatments. I admit I have done them all. It feels horrible when I have allowed arguments to escalate to this level—wasting precious time and energy. Yet, what if conflict doesn’t have to be a waste of time and energy? What if we viewed conflict as an opportunity for us to…
Read More
Perspectives from my teenagers The other evening my husband and I were having dinner with our 16-year-old daughter when she proposed we play a game that our kids came up with awhile back. I have decided to call this game “Truth if You Dare.” The game came about one evening as our whole family was having dinner together. Desiring some…
Read More
Are you arguing with your teen correctly? Try this Next Time You’re Tempted to Argue with Your Teen Isn’t it crazy trying to argue with a teen? Have you ever noticed that your teen is always right? That is, in their own opinion. Albert Einstein wisely defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting…
Read More
Could your son or daughter be depressed, but you’re unsure of the signs? How can you recognize the signs and better understand depression? And, if your child is depressed what do you do? Most of us have been affected by depression, either personally, with an adolescent, family member, or friend. Often, parents who have a child struggling with depression aren’t…
Read More
Welcome to my Guest Columnist! Introducing my daughter Sarah – My mom asked me if I would guest write for some of her blog posts. I am 25 now, and I wasn’t sure at first what I would even want to write about. She told me that while a lot of people ask for advice about drugs and drinking, peer pressure,…
Read More
Every good conversation starts with good listening. Next time your teen wants to talk to you, seize the opportunity with these listening skills! Here are 8 ways to listen that increase the likelihood that your teen wants to talk to you. Be present in the moment Offer support through your presence. Stop what you are doing. Listen intently. Maintain eye…
Read More
