Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Posted on
December 24, 2024
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How to Dial Down the Holiday Drama
Posted on
December 17, 2024
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Recently a mom told me, "I'm so sick of hearing the song, It's the most wonderful time of the year, everywhere I go. Really . . . the most wonderful time of the year??? Here's the deal. The holidays can be a huge setup for teen...
Read MoreReally Enjoy the Holidays!
Posted on
December 10, 2024
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It's that time of year again. You pull out the Christmas and holiday decorations. You start planning and coordinating with your family about the holidays. They decide Christmas or Hanukkah should be at your house this year. You make sure that your yard and your...
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Love Trumps Judgment: A Mom’s Journey
Posted on
December 3, 2024
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As you embark on the incredible journey of motherhood, I want you to know that you are not alone. Over the past 30 years as a marriage and family therapist, I've had the privilege of listening to countless moms share their fears, worries, and truths...
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Perspective: When Parenting Teens
Posted on
November 19, 2024
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I was talking to Chelsea a 15-year-old girl a few days ago. She's gorgeous and tall, yet she looked small sitting on my office couch. I asked her what was going on. She looked out the window and said, "Everyone hates me at school. I am...
Read MoreTeens and Pressure
Posted on
November 12, 2024
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You want the best for your teen. You want her in the best school, taking the best classes. You want her involved and developing her abilities and skills. You want her to be challenged and all this is important for her brain development. But there is...
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When to Tune Out Your Teen
Posted on
November 5, 2024
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Mothers have an amazing skill. Since your daughter was a baby you have learned how to tune in to her every look, movement, and sound she's ever made. By the time your daughter is a teenager, your 'tuning in' skill is highly developed. Now, it...
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Why Mother Fog is the Gateway to Drama
Posted on
October 30, 2024
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What is Mother Fog? Mother Fog is when there are so many things going on at one time that you can't think clearly. This happens all the time with mothers. It's like your mind is covered with a thick, soupy, dense fog, and your thoughts, feelings, decisions,...
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5 Guidelines to Having Fun with Your Teen
Posted on
October 23, 2024
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Remember Cyndi Lauper's song from the 80's, Girls Just Want to Have Fun. You might remember singing that song at the top of your lungs while driving to the lake with your friends when you were in high school or college. But that was a long...
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What To Do When Your Teen’s Upset
Posted on
October 15, 2024
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Your teen is going to get upset. The question is how will you handle it? This is a hard one for moms. We hate to see our teens unhappy, so we jump in and try to fix it, but we make it worse. Your teen needs what...
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The Inner Game: Why Parenting Is So Challenging for Moms
Posted on
October 8, 2024
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How would you answer this question? Why is parenting your teenage daughter so challenging? Is it your daughter's attitude, defiance, rebellion, mood swings, and rude behavior? Is it her not obeying you or procrastinating? Is it her walling off in her room and not communicating? Yes, all of these things...
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What Was MY Teen Thinking? (What’s really going on in that Undeveloped Prefrontal Cortex)
Posted on
October 2, 2024
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My family loves to tell stories. One of my favorites is when my sister was 13. My dad, sister, and I were down at Memorial Park in Houston. We had hiked down to Buffalo Bayou. The bayou is brown and murky and God knows what...
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How to Get Off the Emotional Roller Coaster with Your Teen
Posted on
September 25, 2024
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Is your happiness dependent on your teen's happiness? Here's why I asked you this question. Last week a mom told me with a big smile on her face, "I guess it's time to go back to my recovery meeting," I asked her, "Why?" She told me that...
Read MoreWhy It’s Hard To Say “No” To Your Teen (And What You Can Do About It)
Posted on
September 17, 2024
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Sometimes the answer is no. It has to be if we are going to protect our teens. This is not the fun part of being a parent. There she is standing in front of you in her mature grown-up body. She tells you, she can handle it. ...
Read MoreHow do You Want This School Year to be Different?
Posted on
September 11, 2024
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Summer is starting to fade away, and the reality hits us. Another school year is upon us. For many mothers, the first day of school is a happy day. You get your time and space back. You can relax because you know your daughter is back...
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The Blessings are Coming . . .
Posted on
September 3, 2024
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I love the ocean. I enjoy the smell of the ocean, the song of the seagulls, and the sound of waves crashing upon the shore. Nothing feeds my soul like the ocean. Last week it was still warm so I went to the beach. I watched one...
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Is Your Relationship With Your Daughter a Battle or Blessing?
Posted on
August 20, 2024
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I remember when I was 8 months pregnant when an acquaintance came up to me and said, Is this your first? I said, "YES" in a happy voice. With a smirky grin, she said, "You just wait!!!!!!!" Several years ago someone asked me how old my daughter was...
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Saying Goodbye to Your Teen is Complicated
Posted on
August 13, 2024
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I know there are moms who have been counting the days till their teen moves out of the house and goes to college. They may even feel giddy with excitement till they can push their teens out the door. But actually, it is rare that moms...
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Teen and Depression: What Moms Can Do
Posted on
July 30, 2024
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Have you ever wondered if your teen was depressed? If you have, you're not alone. New York Times released this in February of 2023, "Nearly three in five teenage girls felt persistent sadness in 2021, double the rate of boys, and one in three girls seriously...
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The Weariness Cure: 4 Steps to Feel Like Yourself Again
Posted on
July 23, 2024
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All moms experience weariness. The reason is that we are fighting the good fight for our family. We give and give and give. And often we don't spend the necessary time replenishing all that we pour out onto those we care about. Often, this is...
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