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.
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.
A reader asks how we deal with teens and the specter of poor teen decisions about drugs and alcohol and parties.
Today’s query asks if being far away means a concerned aunt can’t help her nephew, and my answer is that she can help more than she thinks.
Today’s question is about teaching kids the value of privacy without violating theirs… except sometimes they don’t get that privacy, right?
It’s a dilemma as old as time: Teenagers choosing to dress to trends rather than weather. Do I have the solution? Sort of.
Most parents are afraid their kids will find out too soon that the tooth fairy isn’t real. But what happens when the kids keep believing well into their pre-teen years?
Was there ever a girl who made it through the school years without finding herself friends with a mean girl? Now Mom has to figure out how to best handle it.
What’s more fun that a head of rainbow hair? I have no idea. Summer is the perfect time to go colorful, and you can do it at home.
A mom is trying to understand the information out there about the HPV vaccine and whether she should vaccinate her tween son.
The preteen years can leave parents struggling to connect with their sometimes emotional, unpredictable child. But focusing on your child’s passions might be the key to a closer relationship.
Transitioning to middle school is a scary time for any kid, but when it’s an ADHD child, how should you best proceed? I’ve been there. Don’t panic!
But that’s how I feel about my kids. I really don’t care if they like my music. They spent years listening to me play Aretha, Luther Vandross, The Rolling Stones, etc. and if they one day said, “Hey, Mom? Can you put on that one AC/DC song?”, that’d be great. But I certainly don’t expect it. Just like they don’t expect me to say, “Hey, kids? Can you put on that one Tyler, The Creator song?”
now that my boys are 11 and 13, there are a lot more shows that we can all enjoy and watch together. No more gritting our teeth through painful kid programming like The Wonder Pets or the one show that makes me want to scratch my skin off with a dull butter knife—Jessie. We’re in the sweet spot where we can happily meet in the middle with entertainment that isn’t too kid or too adult. Here are some of our family’s current favorites.
The preteen years can come with a roller coaster of emotions. I’m learning how to handle my unpredictable child and find the sweet moments too.
A few things I wish I’d known before we began orthodontic treatment for my kids. So if you’re just beginning the process, here is my handy guide to getting started.
I didn’t have to snoop when he was in grade school. All of his classmates lived in our neighborhood, so I already knew most of the parents. I also regularly volunteered in the classroom. But now he’s in a big school that combines three different neighborhoods, and I only volunteer when under court order. That means I don’t know anything about the kids he now wants to hang out with, and since he’s no help at all, I have to dig.
School uniforms can create a more respectful learning environment and expedite getting ready in the morning. But they also can come with a price – a blow to children’s creativity and individuality.
Yes, I am the not-so-proud owner of an 11-year-old boy who refuses to wear pants in the winter. He (very strongly) insists on wearing shorts year-round, even when the temperature is only in the high 20’s.
Is there any better time than summer to dive into a good book or two (or ten)? I say no. Here’s what my teens are reading, and what I hope they’ll read.
It seems like there are camps that specialize in almost any interest a child might have. Here are just a few of the kids summer camps I wish actually existed.