As a teen, there’s a lot of emphasis on connecting to other teens, hangin’ out with friends, connecting with friends in social networking, talkin’ on the phone, etc. However, there is something about being able to enjoy one’s own company. It is its own paradise and the enjoyment can empower your teen to understand the [...]
After making a mistake, the last thing someone wants to hear is “I told you so.” Yet, teens hear this all the time when they have failed to follow the instructions laid before them. “Whatever” their eyes seem to say as they roll to the back of their head. WHAT-ever. Here, “I told you so” [...]
“Do your eyes light up when your teen walks into a room?” The author Toni Morrison said this while discussing her relationship with her children in the early days of her pursuit of writing. It occurred to her that she would keep writing when they were around. It became apparent to her that her grunts [...]
I want me to be friends with me. Self-love. You can’t love anyone else without it at least not well. You can’t be the best you can be without it. It isn’t directly taught and yet it is a part of everything you will teach your teen before they are an adult. I want to [...]
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. “ Martin Luther King Jr. Where does your teen stand in times of challenge and controversy? Do you think you have the kind of teen that would [...]
Is your teen planning on losing weight this year? Have they done the most important first step in weight loss? It is so important that if they don’t take this step they are sure to gain the weight back. The first step in weight loss is for your teen to accept themselves as a great [...]
What a year! So much has been accomplished. Your teen may be thinking of their chances of hanging out with friends, or wonder who their going to kiss to bring in the new year, but as a teen parent you have an opportunity to get your teen to think about their goals for next year. [...]
“I think I want to be an actor, but there’s nooo waaay that’s gonna happen.” “I don’t think that test went well. I probably failed.” Ouch. This is hard to hear coming from teens. Heck, coming from anyone. Why not think positively? It doesn’t cost your teen anything more. Unless your teen didn’t prepare [...]
Here is a simple exercise, without telling your teen what you are going to do, for one week give your teen compliments, cheers or kudos on legitimate actions and behavior. This is without any negative comments. Hmmm…seems hard, huh? You can forget the things your teen is doing well because they also do things [...]
It is important that we are aware of how important our words are to our teens and not take their “whatever” attitude towards us as a sign that we can say whatever we want to them without it hurting who they become as adults.