Big Kid
My Kid Turned 18 And All I Got Was Grateful (and Some Ink)
While a child’s 18th birthday is a big deal no matter what, it’s especially meaningful to our family that our once-struggling kid is now, finally, thriving.
Big Kid
Harassment vs. Helicoptering
A reader asks if she should stop in when her middle schooler is being harassed, or if it’s too much. I have soap box for this one.
Big Kid
Teenagers and Bad News Parties: What Do We Tell Them?
A reader asks how we deal with teens and the specter of poor teen decisions about drugs and alcohol and parties.
Education
Helping Kids with Homework: Yes or No?
Ah, homework. It can be the bane of your existence. It may be your nightly battle. Here we tackle finding the balance between helping your children accomplish their responsibilities and fostering independence.
Relationships
Full-Time Grandma Is a Full-Time Problem
A step-dad turns to us looking for help on a tricky situation with his partner’s mother and how she is influencing her grandchild, and not in a good way.
Big Kid
Baby’s First Debit Card
I remember what a big deal my first checking account was, and can hardly believe I’m already there with my own kid. How does that little ATM card mean so much??
Big Kid
Push. Pull.
As the clock ticks down on my oldest’s remaining time at home before launch, the pushing and pulling between us intensifies, bittersweet.
Young Child
Chores & Young Children: When (& How) to Start
Oh, the irony of parenting: It’s undeniably hard work, and yet most of us are doing entirely too much of the work. And while we might be able to swoop through a room and put toys away in 10 minutes doing that job for them is actually lazy parenting on our part. It’s their responsibility. Kids NEED chores. Here’s your starter’s guide.
Young Child
Goodbye Baby Gate, Hello (Terrible, Frightening) Freedom
My preschooler is very good at unlatching our strong baby gate. At what age can I let him have some independence in house during the early morning, before we are up?
Big Kid
“Thank you” is Not Enough: When a Teacher is So Much More
Even though we’ve been incredibly lucky to have a great teacher in our lives as long as we have, saying goodbye is never easy.
Toddler
When Your Toddler Say No More High Chair!
A mom is wisely picking her battles with her toddler but she still wants to maintain a pleasant family mealtime arrangement. What can she do?
Big Kid
How to Turn Kids into Self-Sufficient & Productive Members of Society
Honesty is the best policy, but I routine lie to my teenagers on one very important point… and I’m going to keep doing it, too.
Big Kid
Confessions of a Recovering Naggy McNaggerson
A lifetime of nagging my children in the name of “helping” is coming to a close, because we all need me to back off. It’s hard, but I’m working on it.
Big Kid
Summertime and Teens
Having older kids should make summer less complicated, not more; at least, that’s what I used to think. Planning for the “right” kind of summer is still daunting.
Big Kid
Loosening The Reins Before College
We have just one short year left before my oldest heads off to college. That means it’s time to start pulling back on some rules and letting her figure it out.
Big Kid
When “I’m an Adult!” is Still a Kid in Your House
How do we switch gears from “child we provide for” to “young adult who must provide for herself” in a way that makes sense? In our case, slowly.
Big Kid
Blind Spots
Teaching my teen to drive continues to be challenging, but perhaps less because of the driving itself and more because I’m still learning how to help her.
Big Kid
The Glass Is Exactly As Full As It Should Be
While trying to balance helping my autistic son’s potential and limitations, I don’t always get it right. The good news is, he does, in spite of me.
Big Kid
Failure to Launch: Removing the Parental Safety Net
What can be done when a young adult has been enabled by her parents and is now completely immune to failure or consequences?
Big Kid
College Prep Shouldn’t Be College Madness
I’m so tired of the notion that it’s up to parents to figure out their kids’ college choices, and to do so starting in middle school, to boot. That’s silly.