"Bye Mom!" I wave goodbye as the car door slams and watch my teenage kids walk towards the school. I won't see them again until late at night, except sometimes for a quick shuttle from school to activities. Meandering home, I think of the elementary school days when I would hang around after the … [Read more...]
The Final Countdown: My Summer To-Do List For August
When the end of June hits, most parents I know are thankful for the few months of reprieve ahead, as the hustle of the school year, especially those last two months, gets tedious near the end of the year. Summer time can be a combination of lazy-days around the house, and epic adventures with some … [Read more...]
Dance Moms Aren’t Monsters: We’re Just Supporting Our Kids
The end of the school year means that with the hustle of finishing up school studies, extracurricular sports are usually winding up too. As the parents of dancers, we have another set of dance competitions and recitals to attend, even though spending a sunny weekend afternoon inside a dark theatre … [Read more...]
Is It Reasonable To Set A Phone Curfew For Your Teens?
Staying up late at night with a flashlight and whispering into the phone under the covers is something that most parents my age can remember doing as teens. The trick was to be very quiet, and with any luck, you had a phone—or better yet, a cordless phone—in your bedroom. In my case, getting caught … [Read more...]
My Teenage Daughter Broke Up With Her Boyfriend. So Why Am I So Upset?
I don’t think any parent would say that the moment your child starts dating is an easy one. Even when they start with an innocent crush, it still feels odd to think that your baby is now having feelings for someone other than their family. I have always encouraged my kids to be open about their … [Read more...]
4 Ways To Make Life With Teens Easier
The lives of today's teens are scheduled and full. Many take part in sports or extracurricular activities in addition to keeping up with their academics and social calendar. While it can feel like their lives are heavily scheduled, having a full calendar means that they learn time-management and … [Read more...]
What Young Adult Novels Can Teach Us About Parenting
What do many young adult (YA) books have in common? Angst-y teens, strict rules made for breaking, and rollercoaster love lives. There’s no doubt about it, being a teenager is rough and parenting one proves just as hard. But if there’s something we can learn from all those teen reads, it’s … [Read more...]
Beaming
It's funny, you know, with adolescents. There's that constant push and pull in the parent-child dynamic, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, your teenager reminds you that, in fact, you don't know ANYTHING. And sometimes, that's a good thing. After all: as we get older and more … [Read more...]