Skills and Tools Parents Need for Raising Teenagers

Like the army, parenting teens is the toughest job you'll ever love. Teenagers are naturally manic-depressive. On one side are raging hormones, mercurial emotions, sassy mouths and self-centered behavior. On the other, charm, wit and intense passion. Here's what parents need to survive the tempestuous teens.  Skills and Tools Parents Need for Raising Teenagers

Should Parents Add Kids' Friends on Facebook?

The short answer to this title question is "no." The long answer is a little more complicated but remains a clear negative. Here's why. Facebook and social networks are bubbles whose ramifications on relationships have yet to be defined. What's appropriate and what's not? There are grey areas in digital interactions, particularly with kids. One hot button topic is whether adults should add kids to their Facebook account. Is there anything wrong with parents "friending" their kids' friends? There can be. Here's how. Should Parents Add Kids' Friends on Facebook?

Natural Depression Therapies for Couples, Parents

"Octomom" Nadya Suleman, the single mother of 14 (including octuplets) routinely provides us with glaring examples of what not to do as a parent. Suleman checked herself into mental health rehab for stress and anxiety stemming from a Xanax addiction, says ABC Good Morning, America. Depression affects most parents at some point, but powerful mood-altering drugs like Xanax aren't a solution. From experience, I can say that they only make things worse. For seven years I took antidepressants, but weaned myself two and a half years ago. To treat depression symptoms, I use these methods.  Natural Depression Therapies for Parents

Parenting tips to survive teen depression

While clinical teen depression is relatively uncommon, most teens are subject to bouts of depression. Tedious as they may be for parents, blue periods in teens are normal and even healthy. Teen depression is particularly challenging to deal for parents who are struggling with their own emotional issues. Here are some coping strategies to help parents help teens. read more

Family closeness improves intimacy in relationships

 When teaching, I always assigned the traditional holiday essay: "what I'm thankful for." Invariably, students from preschool to adult responded "family." That says something about our priorities. Over everything, loved ones matter most. Intimacy involves more than just closeness with a significant other or spouse. In our relationship, my husband's and my intimacy manifests itself in our unity with our kids. Parenting our children is a big part of what's kept us together and brought us closer. We don't live through our kids, but in learning to be good caregivers to them, we've learned to love each other more. For us, family has made our dyad three-dimensional. Bluntly said, I find it very sexy that my husband is a loving dad to the kids I've borne him. I think my closeness to my kids turns him on too. It may sound weird, but if you think about it, intimacy is what got us the kids. The kids grew from our romance. They're the logical conclusion. That's why it's important, nay crucial, to celebrate the holidays as a family. Here's how we've done it. read more

How I Set WAHM Boundaries in Relationships

I've been a WAHM (work-at-home-mom) since 2005. There are advantages to working at home. I see more of my family, I'm readily available. I don't have to go out to work every day. Oddly, those advantages are closely related to the disadvantages. Work-at-home perks caused many problems before I learned to set boundaries. And it got a little chaotic. Worst of all, it hurt my most valued relationships (husband and kids). There was a time when I considered quitting and going back to a more traditional job. But we worked it out. Here's how. read more

Sibling rivalry: Parenting tips to help kids get along

I'm always saddened when I hear parents say that their kids don't like each other. I'm not bragging (well, not much), but our four kids all get along great and always have. I don't say that to be self-righteous. I don't know exactly why our family has so little sibling rivalry. We are a  very close family but it could also be just luck. If it had anything to do with our parenting, here's what we did. Sibling rivalry: Parenting tips to help kids get along 

Teaching kids friendship skills begins with parent example

 Making friends (and keeping them) is one of the most important skills kids learn. But it's not learned with textbooks or lesson plans. Building healthy relationships is a hands-on activity. When kids struggle to make friends, it's easy for to blames schools. But schools can only do so much to foster friendship skills. The best lessons begin and end at home. Here are ways parents can teach kids to make friends. Teaching kids friendship skills begins with parent example