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. 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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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 live in Texas. Everyone in Texas rides a horse, right? (Well, maybe not in Houston.) One weekend, I was visiting my sister in Austin. We went to see some friends who lived outside of Austin, who had four horses on several acres of land. Her...
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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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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 teen can be happy, angry, sad, stressed, and hyper in a five-minute...
Read MoreIt can drive you nuts. There she is lying on the sofa being a couch potato while you are running around trying to get your work done. Summer, for lots of moms, is more work when the kids are at home. We don't want our kids...
Read MoreThe last month of school can get crazy. Many of you have been living your lives at 100 miles per hour with the entire end-of-year activities. Your teen thought that summer would never come, and the finals and projects would never stop. She'd daydream about going...
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If I were to ask you, "How much do you feel appreciated on a scale of 1 to 10 by your kids, husband, partner, friends, family, or work?" What would you say? I have talked to plenty of moms who feel they were appreciated at...
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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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Sometimes the answer is no. It has to be, if we are going to protect our daughters. 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. ...
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Teenage girls live in the selfie generation. It's what teen girls do. So what's up with all these selfies? Parents can be baffled by the frequency of their daughter's selfies. When we were teens, we also loved getting our pictures taken, but it wasn't all the time. ...
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Exercise is a necessity for all teens, not just the superstars. This is foundational for their physical and emotional health. There are many benefits to exercise, which go far beyond the quest for the perfect body. Better school performance. Exercise not only strengthens our muscles, but it also...
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The sky was deep blue, no humidity, and the temperature was 60 degrees. I decided to take advantage of this beautiful day in Houston. Days like these are rare in Houston, and I wasn’t going to miss it. The red buds were out, and some...
Read MoreI love being around teenagers. They have an energy and joy that's contagious. When you can get past the drama, you can see the teenager's wonderful attributes and qualities, many of which we have lost as adults. Yes, teens can be emotionally reactive, but they can also...
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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 secret...
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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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