Search Results for: blog walk a bit in your childrens shoes

Acknowledging Your Teen’s Pain

Don’t we all like our feelings to be acknowledged? What if you were going through something painful, either emotionally or physically, would it help to hear someone acknowledge your pain? I imagine this is what people with conditions like fibromyalgia experience. Their pain may not be seen as “real” by others but for those who are suffering, it is more than real. Well this is what my 12-year-old son has been going through for several months. On and off he has been experiencing stomach pains that can last a day or several. He has missed a good deal of school … Continue reading →

What I Learned from My Child’s Pain

What’s worse than watching one of your children cry for three hours over a broken relationship? Finding out that the one who did the breaking of the heart suddenly realized how wrong they were and wants a second chance. As I comforted my child (before the other person realized they were “wrong” for breaking up), all I could think in the back of my mind was that this must be the best thing. Because after all, that person surely didn’t deserve my child. Of course, I didn’t tell my child that but those were my thoughts. I also thought back … Continue reading →

Middle School Can Be Brutal

Middle school can be just brutal. And the funny thing is I always thought it was worse for girls. But my daughter is about to officially end her middle school years in just a couple of weeks. Although it hasn’t been problem-free, it has certainly been much better for her than it has been for my boys. I tend to think it is the fact she stayed in a K-8 school, while my boys went to middle schools. I could be wrong but all I know is that I will be glad when the next two years are over with. … Continue reading →

Trying to Understand Teenagers

While the phrase “I will never understand women” is popular, as the parent of a teen I think that is less complicated than trying to understand teenagers. Their emotions can sometimes be all over the place. What was funny to them one day will suddenly cause them to break into tears the next day. One moment they are in this great mood and the next they are suddenly sullen. It can be hard to keep up with the ever-changing emotions at times. I think one of the most clueless people in my home is my husband. I don’t mean to … Continue reading →

Birth Order Makes a Difference

Several years ago I read a book about birth orders. Since I have three children I was able to easily pick up on the characteristics that perfectly fit my youngest, middle and oldest child. It was amazing how many similarities I saw between what was described in the book and what I see in my children. One of the things I remember reading about firstborns is that they tend to do better in adult company than children of other birth orders. While my oldest son is still a teenager who enjoys hanging out with friends, he is definitely able to … Continue reading →

Giving Teens Space

Do you ever feel like you just need some space? You need time alone, time to finish a project, time to just chill? We all have those moments where we just need some space. The same is true for our teens and we should learn how to recognize those moments and at the same time, respect those moments. One of the things I try really hard to do is to put myself in my children’s shoes. I try to step outside of self and take a good look at my children’s lives. I try to envision what life can sometimes … Continue reading →

A Fly on the Wall

Wouldn’t you just love to be a fly on the wall when it comes to your children? Some parents got that rare opportunity through a special done on “Dateline”. It was about what children do when they are put to the test. Parents were allowed to watch it all unfold behind hidden cameras. The entire show was very interesting, so I plan on writing some blogs based on the different segments. There was one segment where children were put to the test on whether or not they would allow a stranger to walk into their home. There were also segments … Continue reading →

With Freedoms Come Responsibility

You will often hear me refer to Dr. Phil as I write some of these blogs on teenagers. He does a great job at tackling some of the issues that teens deal with today. One of the running themes that I see in virtually every show of his that deals with teenage issues is a sense of entitlement. Many teens believe that they are entitled to things, not just material possessions but it can come in the way of freedom. They feel like they are so close to adulthood that they have the right to do things that adults do. … Continue reading →

Family Fun At The State Fair—A Day Of Pig Races And Deep Fried Pickles

There aren’t too many places on the planet where you can watch a retired NASCAR announcer provide color commentary on a race between four pot-bellied pigs speeding around a sawdust track, and then 2 hours later gnaw unforgivably on a deep fried pork chop-on-a-stick. It happens daily at the Wisconsin State Fair. The annual 10-day event is famous around these parts for deep-fried everything, food-on-a-stick, a giant slide and world-class agricultural venues. What more could you ask for, right? That was my thought when I decided to brave the crowds (more than 800,000 descend on State Fair Park in Milwaukee … Continue reading →