In a relationship when something is not right we have options as to how to handle it. We can avoid it and push away our concern but this usually results in frustration, resentment and a possible angry outburst. We could jump right in and tell our partner how their behavior irritates us but this could […]
I hear the sighs of relief and the shouts of joy from parents as the first day of school draws near. I also hear the groans and the tears from the teens who are experiencing the back to school blues. This time of year brings a mixture of frustration and excitement for teens. They love […]
Screen time is no substitution for observational learning. As our society is changing the overuse of electronics is a concern in regards to children’s learning at each age of development. Children learn so much about their world through observation and copying behaviors they see and the use of electronics is limiting their observations because their eyes […]
What your teens fear most is quite different from what may keep you awake at night. Most parents’ worries are theoretical and future-based — fear for their teens’ safety at school and their ability to compete in an increasingly tough world, college applications and their kid getting a job. Teens, in contrast, fear what is […]
Living in Orange County and raising a family here brings its own challenges. There is pressure to succeed both socially and financially. Our children are watching us and learning from our behaviors what is important to us and what we value. Being clear in our own heads of what values we want to pass on to […]
I had just finished a very full, long, challenging and draining week. My best friend noticed I was looking especially defeated and worn out. I went on to tell her that I was frustrated that the outcomes I’d hoped for, worked so hard for that week had largely gone unmet. I spent a few minutes […]
“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” Forbes, 1972 Isn’t that the truth?! Sadly, the truth is also that we don’t always treat others well. We get caught up in ourselves, in our busy-ness, in our lists of things to do and […]
Competition is the American way. Who is the best athlete, student, employee, or even friend? Who is the best? But when it comes to a marriage and relationship with the person you love it should no longer be about competition, in fact the two of you are supposed to be on the same team. You are partners, […]
Do you ever feel like relationships are hard? Sometimes it can feel like there’s one thing after another that causes tension or gets in the way of the connection we are looking for with the other person. Creating and maintaining a healthy relationship does take effort. I understand that you as an individual have pressures put […]
Like it or not, for better and for worse, social media is here to stay. The question now is how you’re going to monitor it with your teen. There are lots of options but I’ve narrowed it down to six common and effective tips. 1. Set the ground rules. When is social media access allowed […]