8 mins read

10 Tips To Keep Children Safe from Sexual Abuse

Keeping your children safe from child predators sounds like a scary proposition, but it doesnt have to be. We used to teach children about stranger danger, but studies have shown that most sexual abuse occurs at the hands of someone known to the child. He might seem like the friendliest teacher, neighbor, uncle or coach. Unfortunately, this person, who is always showing an interest in your child and working to develop trust, can sometimes be a child predator. It is difficult for adults to recognize these people for who they really are, and of course, it is even more difficult for children. Just as we teach children about the dangers associated with crossing the street or going near a hot oven, we must talk to them about recognizing and avoiding threatening encounters with child predators. I have a short list of “tips” that have helped me talk to my children about safety. Here are some suggestions:

3 mins read

What you HAVE to Tell Your Kids About Sex

In the United States, nearly one in three girls will get pregnant before she turns 20, and half of all young adults will get an STD by the time they turn 25. If youre the parent of a teen/tween, youve probably come to the hard realization that youre going to have to speak with them about sex. Will it be embarrassing? Possibly. Awkward? Most likely. But will it also make your kids less likely to become a statistic? Without a doubt. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 87% of teens say that it would be easier for them to postpone sex and avoid pregnancy if they were able to have more open and honest conversations with their parents.

7 mins read

Forget Facebook: The Sexting Apps Parents Need To Know

As a child, I remember hearing the ominous male voice on the TV commercial asking parents:It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your children are? These day, its a little easier to track our kids whereabouts with the help of smart phones and GPS. What we parents dont always know, however, is where our kids our hanging out online.Ill be the first to admit that I cant keep …

7 mins read

Sexism, New York Times Style

Each ambitious woman discovers her own ugly truth: along the path to success, youve gotta watch out for the false doors, the smoke and mirrors, the landmines disguised as bouquets of roses. Expect them when you least expect them. Sheryl Sandburgs famous Lean In philosophy didnt quite capture this part. Yes, lean in. Work hard. Work smart. But recognize that workplaces, especially the most powerful, highly compensated, male-dominated echelons of politics, journalism …