Yes, teen girls can be drama queens, but moms can be drama mamas. "How? Our disrespectful, moody, entitled, and defiant daughters can push our buttons. And what happens when they push our buttons? We get angry and frustrated very quickly. We fire words right back at our daughters that...
Read More
My teen is so stubborn. He argues about everything She won't listen to anything I say If I say one thing, he blows a gasket I'll ask her about her day, and all she says is fine. She's so disrespectful. It's like she's in her own little world Do any of these...
Read MoreIf your teen tends to be negative, don't worry; you're not the only one. Cheryl was taking my Power Your Parenting Program. On one of our calls, she said, "Most of the drama happens because my daughter Abby is so negative." I asked her to give...
Read MoreWhat do you worry about? If you haven't worried about anything this past week, then don't read this article. But I'm guessing you have. :) Even the most enlightened and spiritual will find themselves in a state of worry. We worry about different things. We worry about our...
Read More
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 MoreAs 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...
Read More
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 More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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,...
Read More
Remember Cyndi Lauper’s song from the 80s, Girls Just Want To Have Fun. You might remember singing that song at the top of your lungs, driving to the lake with your friends when you were in high school or college. But that was a long time ago…and...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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...
Read More
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 More
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...
Read More
Summer is starting to fade away, and 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...
Read More
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...
Read MoreCan your son or daughter relax at your house? Is your teen comfortable with having friends over? Do you like being in your home? If you answered yes, you have a thriving home environment. A thriving home environment is key to having a happy, healthy, and productive...
Read More
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,...
Read More