Latest Posts
"If you entertain thoughts that... your child is
manipulating you, taking advantage of you, ignoring you, or
disrespecting you -- you will often feel annoyed, irritated, and angry.
However, when instead you think in terms of the needs that you and your
child are trying to meet, then you are more likely to feel compassion
and connection. And you are much more likely to take action that
contributes to your child's well-being as well as your own." -- Sura
Hart & Victoria Kindle-Hodson
Is your child's behavior irritating you? Whether he's whining, bossy, or defiant, here's why -- what you can do about it. READ POST
"Dr. Laura.....I have no idea how to be the parent who doesn’t yell….it is so deeply ingrained into me..."
Not yelling may seem like a miracle, but this is something you can do. I've seen many, many parents do it. READ POST
"I
love all your advice. But I find it only works when I can stay calm,
which is really hard. I'm a yeller. My mother was a yeller. I come
from a long line of yellers. How do I break that cycle?" - Cynthia
"Making yourself accountable
to your kids for these kinds of changes is really powerful, for you and
for them! It models so much amazing stuff for them (how to set goals,
how to do emotional work, etc.) and makes them feel like an important
and capable ally in your life. It's not difficult to see how "Hey Billy,
can you help me with problem X I am having in my life" translates to
"Hey Mom, can you help me with problem Y I am having in my life" in the
teen years, and beyond."- Jennifer Dillon
Most parents yell. We don't even notice ourselves doing it half the
time. Our voice just gets louder and louder. Or we do know we're doing
it, but at that moment, it seems completely justified. After all, did
you SEE what that kid DID?! READ POST
Did you know that one out of every four girls in middle school today will be date-raped by the time she's 22? That predators try to abduct about 100,000 teenage girls each year, with the risk peaking at age 15? As I consider my 16 year old and her friends, these statistics are shocking, unbearable. READ POST
"Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?"
We all feel the urge to blame someone when things go wrong. We seem to
think that fixing blame prevents a recurrence of the problem, or
absolves us of responsibility. In reality, blaming makes everyone
defensive, more inclined to watch their back -- and to attack -- than to
make amends. READ POST
"The road has been long, hard, and pressure-packed. They made their grades throughout high school....went way beyond normal requirements for community service and extra curriculars...were at computers writing essays long past their parents’ bedtime... left home for the first time to live in dorms as first-year college students....Many — perhaps more than half of them — are anxious, depressed, or simply overwhelmed. Separation anxiety accounts for some of it... they’re now flying solo, without a net...Making new connections and friendships and fitting into the fast-paced social and academic life of college can be challenging. Some first-years quickly become marginalized and lonely. Others are burned out on arrival from the journey that brought them here. The thought of continuing to burn the candle at both ends for more grades becomes more than they can bear. The loneliness, anxiety, and depression call out for self-soothing. Restlessness, dark emotions, and new freedoms, combined with an abundant supply of alcohol and drugs, lead to high levels of binge drinking...Today, too many kids are succeeding academically and failing psychologically and emotionally." -- Stuart S. Light READ POST
When BlogHer and LG asked me to interview teens I know about sexting, I was game but blasé. I regard my kids, their friends, and my nieces and nephews as a thoughtful, responsible bunch, and I was pretty sure I knew what they would say. I was wrong. READ POST
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