It’s always a good feeling when you see your teenager make what can be a very grown up decision. This just recently happened with my 13-year-old daughter who finally decided she had had enough in a friendship. It wasn’t that she was going to be mean to the person or retaliate. She was finally going to establish boundaries. Boundaries can be a difficult thing for anyone to put up, even for adults. So when I see my teenage daughter understanding the importance, it gives me great hope. Friendships at this age can be very challenging. It sometimes feels like I … Continue reading →

An old high school friend recently added me to a Facebook group, in which a reunion is being planned. It has been 25 years since we graduated. So it’s been interesting to look at some of the old faces and read up on how everyone is doing. It is hard to imagine some that have gotten married and had children. I guess it’s because I still see them as they were in their cliques. You know the labels that teens put on each other. Back in my day it was the jocks, preppies, nerds, outcasts and the popular kids. I … Continue reading →

On Monday we celebrated Christmas with my sister’s family, my dad and stepmom. When we go to my dad’s house it always starts the same way. My children and their cousins disappear to the expansive basement to play hide and seek in the dark, while the adults sit in the living room and talk. The most my dad and stepmom get to hear about the kids is what we adults share. But they don’t get much of an opportunity to really get to know their grandkids. They aren’t the most talkative and most answers to their questions are pretty simple, … Continue reading →

This week I blogged about the question, “Is Your Teen Ready to Date?” I would like to spend a few more blogs on this topic because I think it is a really important issue for parents of teenagers. Perhaps you have decided that your teen is not ready to date…or maybe you are just not ready to let your teen date. How do you handle that? The first thing you need is your ammunition. Why are you not allowing your teen to date? Do you truly believe it is because your teen is too young? They are not emotionally ready? … Continue reading →