I am from Texas and yes I do have a cowboy hat. I don't wear it all the time but you never know when I might feel the urge to wear it. There is a certain feeling and persona I feel when I wear a...
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Why is it that so many moms feel bad about their parenting? I think one big reason for this is Mother's Guilt. Webster dictionary defines guilt as a bad feeling caused by knowing or thinking that you have done something bad or wrong. Mother's guilt is when this...
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The problem is teenage girls need exercise more than ever. Exercise gets kicked to the curb with screen time (Internet, Facebook, and TV) and demanding homework. Another reason for the decrease in exercise is the super star syndrome. This is when teens quit exercising because they...
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The last month of school can get crazy. Many of you have been living your lives at 100 miles per hour with all of the end of the year activities. Your daughter thought that summer would never come, and the finals and projects would never stop....
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Yes, teen girls can be drama queens, but mom's can be drama mamas. "What are you talking about? It's my daughter's fault. She is rude, disrespectful, and defiant." I know it's easy to focus on your daughter's behavior, but it's easy for mom's to join the drama...
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Summer is around the corner but first you have to get through projects, papers, finals--oh my. This is not only challenging for your daughter but it is challenging for you because your daughter is stressed. Stress is contagious and if you are not intentional you will...
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How many of you worked on Mother's Day? Probably most of you did. It's great to get the cards, flowers, and be taken to lunch or dinner. It's wonderful to be appreciated for all that you do. But it's not enough. Here's why. I know that most moms are...
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Are you and your partner on the same page concerning your daughter? Do you back each other up? Are you a united front? Do you have each other's back? ...
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"We get along great on vacations!" I can't tell you how many times I have heard this in my private practice. Why is it, that families (and couples) who fight all the time at home, can enjoy each other on vacations? The answer is STRESS. The Conspiracy of...
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Defining success is a tricky, especially when it comes to your teenager. If I asked you if your daughter or son was successful what would you say? Would your daughter say she is successful? These are uncomfortable questions for both you and your daughter. Here's why. This culture...
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Here's the hard part for moms. In your head it's super clear. You need her to clean her room. That's not asking too much. It's the least she can do. You are having guests over and you are cleaning the rest of the house, plus making dinner...
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You know this on some level. Who has not heard the airplane illustration about putting on your oxygen mask first before placing it on your child? Meaning, we need to take care of ourselves first, before we can take care of anyone else in our...
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How often do you say to yourself, "I'm doing an awesome job parenting my teenage daughter"? Yet in most areas you rock as a mom. You make sure she gets to school on time. You know when her assignments are due. You've done your research and hired the best...
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Your daughter is going to make mistakes. How do I know this? Teens are hard-wired to make mistakes. In other words because of where teens are developmentally they will make mistakes. How you think about your daughter's mistakes matters significantly. Whether you are able to see her missteps...
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I love being around teenagers. They have an energy and joy that's contagious. When you can get past the drama, you can see their wonderful attributes and qualities, many of which we have lost as adults. Yes, teens can be emotionally reactive but they can also be...
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One of the quickest ways to connect with your daughter is through laughter. But let's be honest. Does your daughter's silliness and playfulness drive you nuts sometimes? You want her to be serious about...
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A garden flourishes when it has the proper balance of all the elements; the same applies to your teenage daughter. Most of this is not news to you. You know that in order for your daughter to blossom, she needs to eat healthy, get plenty of...
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Have you ever felt the wall? You know the wall between you and your daughter. It's obvious when the wall is up. It feels icy. She glares at you. She walks past you in the hall. She is walled off in her room. You force her talk but...
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I am taking an online defensive driving course. I could say I am taking the course because I wanted to lower my car insurance, which is partially true. But the truth is, I was speeding and got a ticket. There you have it. The...
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You are just trying to be helpful and you say, "You aren't going to learn anything if you are on facebook, texting, and watching You Tube videos while you are trying to study for your test." You go on to say, "If you want to...
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