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...
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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 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...
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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...
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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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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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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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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...
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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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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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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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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...
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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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I know there are moms who have been counting the days till their teen moves out of the house and goes to college. And 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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One of the most beautiful gifts innate to moms is the ability to please. We love our kids and want to see them happy. This desire to please is why we throw unforgettable birthday parties and go to great lengths to make our children feel...
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Have you ever wondered if your teen was depressed? If you have, you're not alone. The 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...
Read MoreIn this episode I have a great conversation with Lisa Hinkelman, author of Girls Without Limits: Helping Girls Succeed in Relationships, Academics, Careers, and Life. Lisa has recently released her second edition of Girls Without Limits, Her first edition was published in 2013. Lisa and I...
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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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I'm a native Houstonian, and like many of you, I've known hundreds of people who have gone to Camp Mystic – grandmothers, mothers, and daughters who share the legacy of making friends for life and saying, "Going to camp is the highlight of my year." Camp...
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We call it multitasking. Women pride themselves on 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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