March 21st, 2010 by admin
By Joanne Kimes and R.J. Colleary with Rebecca Rutledge, PhD,
Authors of Teenagers Suck: What to do when missed curfews, texting, and “Mom can I have the keys?” make you miserable.
Once upon a time, a parent was left to their own creativity to come up with new and clever ways spy and snoop on their teenagers. Listen in on the extension phone? Sneak a peek at their personal diary? Check for contraband stashed in the underwear drawer? Your current teenager might actually injure themselves laughing at your Neanderthal ways.
“Wait a minute,” your teen says, while gasping for breath, “Didn’t they do those things on an episode of The Brady Bunch?”
Okay, already. I’m old. Don’t rub it in.
Today’s teens might dare you to try and crack the code of passwords protecting their blogs. Or snicker while you attempt to make sense of the net lingo shorthand on their text messages. And only underwear is in the underwear drawer. So, while your neighbor’s cat has been “friended” poor old Mom is still waiting patiently on the “facespaceplace” page for her shout out. Read the rest of this entry »
January 5th, 2010 by admin
Whose Bed Is It Anyway? Tips on Cosleeping (Bedsharing) and Room Sharing
By Kim West, LCSW-C,
Author of The Sleep Lady®’s Good Night, Sleep Tight: Gentle Proven Solutions to Help Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up Happy
Here are some things to think about as you figure out the right and comfortable sleep-enhancing arrangement for both you and your child. Read the rest of this entry »
June 22nd, 2009 by admin
The importance of family internet safety education and etiquette is often overlooked by both kids and teenagers today. While most teens are more ahead of the curve than most parents when it comes to the internet, they may not have the knowledge to help keep them safe from online dangers and its potentially negative effects.
On behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft Windows, let me introduce you to a new initiative called “LMK (text-speak for “Let Me Know,”) which provides parents and girls with resources catering to both generations, and whose goal is to bridge the digital gap between parents and teenagers.
On lmk.girlscouts.org, the girl-targeted website, teens can find interactive quizzes, videos, and expert articles to be informed about online safety in a fun way! Girls can comment on the site content, sharing their thoughts, experiences and perspectives on topics many teens face everyday, like cyberbullying and social networking. New content is posted periodically and will cover twelve different areas related to being a teen online today. Teens can even download an interactive patch they can share on social networking sites like Facebook, just by registering for the site at no cost. Best of all, it’s for all teenagers, not just Girl Scouts!
When parents visit letmeknow.girlscouts.org, they can sign up for the e-newsletter written and developed by a team of “LMK Teen Editors” who are sharing their knowledge about the ways teens use technology and help parents understand it all. Parents will have the chance to learn need-to-know skills to keep them up to speed with what their kids are doing online too. Expert advice is also offered to give guidance on tougher issues.
April 13th, 2009 by admin
Is it any wonder . . .
Most people go through mid-life crises when their kids are teenagers?
Fewer parents are grounding their teenager — to avoid being stuck at home with them?
So many moms and dads downgrade to one-bedroom condos once their teens graduate from high school?
Mood swings? Check. Eye rolls? Check. Slamming doors and easily annoyed teens? Check. Check. Read the rest of this entry »
January 21st, 2009 by admin
By Emily Sue Harvey
www.renewalstories.com
History itself affirms that the family is the foundation of society. It is the glue that holds together civilization itself. Block by block, it builds nations. But the most important place for family is inside each of us; it is who we are. We’re living in days when the traditional family is challenged to the hilt. More than ever, parenting and nurturing roles are important and necessary. Like an orchestra, each family member is an instrument, with notes that blend the unit. Read the rest of this entry »
