The topic that most parents dread as their child nears the teenage years: dating and sexuality. But if you are dreading it, think about how your teen feels? You were their age once. Except now things are probably a little different; there are millions of resources at their fingertips thanks to the internet. The sooner that you can talk to them about dating and sex before they learn what they need to know from the media, friends, and their own personal research, the better.
Read MoreMany parents and adults know bullying is a common issue among kids, especially in their teenage years, but most do not know just how common or the effects it can cause short and long term. More than one out of every five (20.8%) students report being bullied according to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2016). To put that statistic into perspective, for a class with 30 students, about every sixth is bullied.
Read MoreIf you are a parent who struggles to connect with your teen then this article is for you. Your teen is in need of your assistance to overcome the difficulties they come across in day-to-day life. Your teen is going through a series of mental and physical changes in their life. As a result, they can’t effectively navigate the stressors of life without the support of their parents.
Read MoreA recent client of mine was severely bullied for having an iPhone older than a 5. He asked his mom to change schools. Another client was sent home in tears because he liked theatre more than sports. Furthermore, a young girl was publicly shamed because it was discovered that she was sending naked pictures of herself to boys she liked because she was told they would like her.
Read MoreYou see, when Timmy’s parents first called me for a consultation they where distraught. They had found Timmy’s phone lying on the counter while he was at soccer practice, and they decided to take a look. What they saw shocked them to say the least. In his SnapChat story, they saw pictures of him with huge clouds of smoke coming out of his mouth.
Read MoreI want my teenager to take school seriously. I want to be done with all the back and forth arguing that happens every time I ask my teen to do anything around the house. If only my teen was respectful, would it be so much easier to hear his point of view.
Read MoreDoes this sound familiar? “Because I am your parent and I said so!” The next statement would sound like this, “well I am still not doing it and you can’t make me.” Ultimately, this exchange ends with a behavioral escalation and then consequences. None of which results in the desired task being completed.
Read MoreIn sports it is said that one rises to level of his competition. I suppose it could be conversely stated that one can also lower them to inferior completion. Overall I think this means that when presented a challenge that we are encouraged or expected to meet, we generally will outperform our expectations. This does not exempt us from failing to succeed or that we always reach our desired outcome, but it does make us think twice about how we set the bar for our challenging teens.
Read MoreThe year it all comes together. Yes, being a senior in high school is a time for reflection, a time to prepare for the next chapter, a time to say goodbye, and a time to celebrate. Wait a minute; it is still a school year, isn’t it? Doesn’t that mean there are still expectations to perform well and finish strong? With college admissions often based on the condition of maintaining academic performance, and scholarships dependent on performance as well, it is critical that senior year be taken just as seriously as all others. Enter the dreaded senior-itis.
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