Teenagers are addicted to texting. They are expected to respond to text messages instantaneously and have no problem putting a stop to whatever it is they are doing in order to reply. This becomes a huge problem when what they are doing is operating a motorized vehicle. Many parents worry about distracted driving, and rightfully so. This is an issue that all drivers face, and … [Read more...] about How to Get Your Teen to Stop Texting While Driving
Tweens and Teens
What My Special Needs Nephew Has Taught Me About Confidence
This post is sponsored by Mirum, but opinions expressed are my own. My nephew is one of the most inspirational kids I know. Well, actually, the most inspirational young man I know (he's 16). I only met Brandon 4 years ago when I reconnected with my birth family after 34 years. The day I met him I knew he was special. Unique in his own way, the fact that he is special needs … [Read more...] about What My Special Needs Nephew Has Taught Me About Confidence
You Are NOT A Loser
“Mom, can I ask you something?” my son asked me this as he put away his backpack after coming home from school. “Of course”, I answer, slicing apples and spooning out peanut butter for a snack. “What’s up?” “Why does everyone think I am such a loser? How come no one likes me?” I put down the knife, look my son in the eye and tell him in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS: “You are … [Read more...] about You Are NOT A Loser
Letting Go: Redefining The Mother-Daughter Relationship
It is the eve of the night before my first baby girl Neriah becomes an adult. How did this day come so soon? This natural rite of passage I imagined gently greeting me hit me like a bold question mark at the end of a sentence. Despite the lack of emotional preparation, the day unfolds, and with it a boatload of emotions. Senior year, 18th birthday, and college acceptance … [Read more...] about Letting Go: Redefining The Mother-Daughter Relationship
Focus On Resilience In Wake of School Shootings
Each year, one of the administrators from the middle school tells a story to incoming parents. The story involves a chrysalis that is struggling to turn into a butterfly and a kind person who, after seeing the painful process, decides to help remove it from its binds. The problem is that it is in the very process of breaking free that the butterfly gains the strength that it … [Read more...] about Focus On Resilience In Wake of School Shootings