I remember when I was 8 months pregnant when an acquaintance came up me and said, Is this your first? I said, "YES" in a happy voice....
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I just got back from seeing some of my life-long friends in Novato, CA, which is about an hour north of San Francisco. We started visiting their family when my daughter was in second grade and made this a yearly ritual. This was a win-win...
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We call it multi-tasking. Women pride themselves for being able to do a million things at once. Here's my question. How's it working for you? My guess is that it's not working that well. Something is going to be compromised. It's not just that we are doing several...
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Every mom wants to see that her daughter is making progress. You hope to see your daughter moving forward and progressing in her academics, creativity, relationships, responsibility and maturity. This yearning is instinctual in moms and feels like it is written in our DNA. Because this feeling...
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Laughter is medicine for the soul and has many health benefits. It helps you bond with your daughter. It decreases stress and releases the endorphins that make you feel good. In other words laughter helps you lighten up, enjoy your life and enjoy your relationships. But...
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The fourth of July is a day to celebrate our country's freedom. How about you? Do you need a little freedom? How about a little emotional freedom, especially when it comes to your daughter's drama? Your daughter can be happy, angry, sad, stressed, and hyper in a...
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The lazy days of summer are finally here. Hopefully you've had a chance to catch your breath and play a little bit. What are you hoping for...
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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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