Search Results for: blog connecting to my daughter

Connecting to Your Teen

Connecting to a teenager can sometimes be a challenge. However, there are several factors that will play into this including their age, their gender, how well you are currently getting along with each other and your communication skills. Age can make a difference. I remember connecting to my oldest son to be difficult around the age of 12 and 13. But now at 18 we have some great conversations. Some ages are more difficult and that can even vary from one child to the next. In general, the middle school years tend to be the most difficult. But I know … Continue reading →

I Hate My Teenage Daughter

No, I don’t hate my teenage daughter. But I’m sure the title of this blog captured your attention. This is actually the title of a new show coming to FOX, starting November 30th. I happened to see a preview of it this week. In the preview you see two mothers sitting together, talking about their teenage daughters. But all you hear is negativity. Granted, it’s supposed to be a comedy but I actually found the dialog a bit unnerving. Once again the world of sitcom is tackling an important relationship in such a way that it doesn’t promote any sort … Continue reading →

Disconnecting From the Distractions That Pull

One thing I discovered this past weekend is that even teenagers need a little peace and quiet. While I had been looking forward to our annual trip to “Camp Tranquility,” it proved to be just as therapeutic for my teens. Camp Tranquility is the name of the property that my father and stepmom own. It’s about 3 hours from our home, deep in the heart of the woods and beside a river. It truly is tranquil. I had been especially looking forward to going since the kids had been on their first week of summer vacation and my husband had … Continue reading →

Connecting to My Daughter

I have been counting down the days to Thursday, when I will be able to take a trip out of town. Every year a bunch of women from my church attends a district-wide women’s conference that has been held in a variety of locations. This year it is at the Kalahari Water Park…can you say lazy river? I have gone most years but there have been some I missed due to conflicts. This year was going to be a particularly special one because it is the first year that my daughter can attend, now that she is a teen. I … Continue reading →

Homeless Man Reunites With Daughter Via Twitter

Twitter can be used as a way to tell the world what you thought of the restaurant you ate lunch at. In a few cases, Twitter has been used to reunite long lost relatives. A homeless man used a cell phone to send a tweet that ended up reconnecting him with his daughter. The United States is a rich country. Despite this fact, we still have a lot of people who are living at or below poverty level, and a growing number of people who are homeless. The town that I live in has more than one homeless shelter. There … Continue reading →

Fatherhood Blog in Review – July 15

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I’m very excited about putting the ‘male perspective’ out there for our Families members. I hope you have enjoyed reading my blogs this week as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I certainly welcome your comments, feedback, and questions. My favorite blog of the week had to be the one entitled Penny a Minute. In it, I reminisced about a treasured activity that I shared with my father, that I hope my own children will also enjoy with him in years to come. Based on some of the comments that this blog received so far, many readers have had … Continue reading →

Shot through the Heart

Here’s a reality if you are the parent of a teen.  Sometimes it is going to hurt your heart. In fact, this past week I found myself humming the tune of an old 80’s favorite, “Shot through the Heart” by Bon Jovi.  Why?  Because that is exactly how an incident made me feel. Teen attitudes can get in the way of joy.  Adding to this, teens can be pretty unimpressed by our efforts to make life enjoyable or fun.  And oftentimes they tend to see the glass as half-empty instead of half-full. So here I thought I had discovered a … Continue reading →

Being Vulnerable as a Parent

If you were raised with, “Because I said so,” you likely use this phrase with your own children. For many years, particularly when my children were younger, I used it often. As they started to get older, I realized that it wasn’t really teaching them anything. I was missing out on opportunities to share my heart and why I made certain decisions. It was also preventing them from having a voice. Part of being a parent with teens is learning how to be vulnerable. It’s not something we naturally gravitate toward. In fact, more often we shy away from this. … Continue reading →

Who Can You Trust?

I have major trust issues. And by major I mean I really don’t trust anyone. That goes triple when my child is involved. Make that quintuple. Let’s just say I am not the type of parent, who would drop off my 9-year-old kid at a municipal pool with five bucks for lunch and head to work for 8 hours, hoping that the lifeguards or other adults will make sure he’s alive and well by the time I return. For many parents, entrusting their flesh and blood to others is not a task they take lightly. And, no, I don’t buy … Continue reading →

Summer Glow

My 7-year-old is obsessed with glow sticks. Forget about capturing fireflies and giving them a spacious glass home to reside in; my kid is all about shaking, breaking and wearing cheap neon sticks that double as summer evening accessories. Granted, the sticks are very affordable. In fact, you can stock up on them right now at various Dollar Stores nationwide. Some locations are even selling them for 50 cents a pack. Of course, if your children are like my daughter, then connecting glow sticks with plastic fasteners to create necklaces, headbands, anklets and bracelets is simply not enough. Rather, as … Continue reading →