Tag Archives: parenting teens

One Trick to Stop Nagging Now

Ever listen to a dripping faucet?  It can quickly become an annoyance.  But have you ever considered that maybe this is how we sound to our teens? Nagging is oftentimes attributed to wives.  We have somehow earned this stereotype.  Yet the reality is that parents can easily fall prey to this bad (and annoying) habit. Here’s what I think happens when we start nagging our teen.  Suddenly all they hear is the sound Charlie Brown’s teacher makes when she talks. In other words, we are incomprehensible.  Nothing is getting through because they stop hearing what we are saying. No wonder … Continue reading →

You Are Making a Difference

Another year has come and gone.  I mentioned in my blog, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” how 2012 had been one of my most difficult years as a parent. Now I stand on the brink of yet another year, filled with anticipation of what is to come.  While at one time I might have felt less sure of expecting the best, my daughter’s Facebook post on New Year’s Eve filled me with assurance. You see, when it comes to parenting teens, you never know what can happen.  You never know what event, what influence, what relationship can potentially … Continue reading →

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

It’s always interesting to reflect back on the past year, to review the most significant moments, to pay special attention to those things you might have changed and to marvel at how quickly it all went by.  Some of us might get stuck in the past, while others find it easier to move on. I would have to say that without a doubt, the year 2012 was the most difficult for me as a parent.  Our family went through a troubling situation with our teen daughter that lasted several months.  All it took was one boy to enter the picture … Continue reading →

What’s Sweeter than Giving?

The holidays are known to be a season of giving.  It’s a time when you extend a hand to help out others or you dig deep into your pocketbook to spare some change. We teach our children the importance of giving unto others and how the holidays aren’t just about receiving.  These lessons are sometimes taught through physical acts of service, such as helping out in a soup kitchen or delivering presents to a needy family. There is so much value in teaching our children these things.  But I think what’s even more important is that they don’t see this … Continue reading →

The Blessing of Inconveniences

It was a typical morning of rushing to get out the door and of course, running late; thanks to one child in particular who I suspect gets a kick out of this.  Then it’s a 20 minute drive to school, fighting my way through traffic. My plan when I walk in the door is to eat breakfast, get in the shower and start on the heavy workload I have for the day.  No time to waste. But then I receive a text from my daughter.  She forgot her swimming suit.  My immediate thought is something along the lines of, “Oh … Continue reading →

Your Child’s Safe Haven

I’m not exactly sure what time the world is supposed to end today.  But my guess is if you are reading this blog, the earth is still intact. It seems we can’t learn our lesson enough, previous predictions that have turned out to be oh-so-not-true.  Although, it seems more people are holding weight in the Mayan calendar running out. As if my teens didn’t have enough to worry about (no, they really didn’t think the world was going to end today), there were other attempts to wreck their last day of school before winter break.  Several threats of violence against … Continue reading →

Dealing With a Traumatic Event

One of the ongoing discussions taking place since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary is how the survivors are going to cope.  Fearful children who are afraid to return to school, some asking if there are anymore “bad guys.”  Or having to explain to them why their teacher or friends won’t be returning. Then there are the horrific images that some of these children witnessed.  The sound of gunfire, hiding in closets and so much more than we can probably only imagine. I wish I had answers as to how a parent can help a child cope after a tragedy.  … Continue reading →

Missed Opportunity

Ever feel like kicking yourself?  I had one of those moments yesterday…when I did the very thing I strive to not do, especially in light of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  I missed an opportunity to talk. It was one of those “life happens” deals.  Picked up the kids from school and was running short on time because I had just an hour to work, dinner to make and a funeral to attend. My 15-year-old daughter wanted to talk and it wasn’t just chitchat.  She wanted me to come into her bedroom and close the door.  That … Continue reading →

Public Discipline or Humiliation?

Discipline has taken a new form.  Nowadays parents have the option to go public with it.  Acts of discipline have been displayed for the entire world to see on social media outlets like Facebook and across the World Wide Web, such as You Tube. But is this really public discipline?  Or is it more like public humiliation? I know many parents who agree with those that choose to broadcast to the world some of the extreme methods of disciplining children.  Who could forget the father that shot his daughter’s laptop because of her disrespect and abuse of Facebook? There have … Continue reading →

Would You Marry Yourself?

Would you want to marry yourself?  Most of us probably don’t think about this but you might want to if you have teenagers. Why?  They are getting closer and closer to that time of making a lifetime commitment.  And the chances are pretty high they will choose someone similar to their same-sex parent. It’s an interesting thing to consider.  Although my 18-year-old son is nowhere near ready to get married, he does talk about the traits he would like in a wife.  Many of them are similar to mine. Hopefully he will bypass the negative one in me when it … Continue reading →