"How do I get my teen to listen to me?" This is the big question for moms of teens. It seems so easy, right? You tell your daughter what seems reasonable, and you want her to listen to you. But actually, we want more. We want...
Read MoreWhen you are the parent of a teen, the fantasy of summer break includes both laughs shared in the sunshine and industrious kids getting work done. Often, reality is a bit different. That disconnect can lead to family drama, which is no one's idea of...
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Last week, Sara came to see me in my private practice. Sara had that spaced-out, frazzled look. She said, "I want my life back. It’s only the first week of summer, and I’m ready for school to start." Sara really didn’t want school to start. What...
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How many of you feel like parenting a tween or teen is hard? The day-to-day can feel exhausting. Sometimes this season of parenting feels like it will never end. That feeling – like the drama and chaos will never let up - can be so disheartening. This...
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Every mom wants to see her teen make progress. You hope to witness your teen moving forward and progressing in their academics, creativity, relationships, responsibility, and maturity. This yearning is instinctual in moms and feels like it is written in our DNA. Because this feeling is so...
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Defining success is tricky, especially when it comes to your teenager. Would you say your teen is successful? Would you say your teen was successful? These are uncomfortable questions for both you and your teen. Here's why. This culture defines success in terms of ranking from the highest to...
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It seems so simple. In your head, it's super clear. All you need her to do is 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...
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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 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...
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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...
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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...
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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 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...
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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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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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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...
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"How do I get my teen to listen to me?" This is the big question for moms of teens. It seems so easy, right? You tell your daughter what seems reasonable, and you want her to listen to you. But actually we want more. We want...
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I feel like I had the best dad in the world. I knew he wasn't perfect, but he never pretended to be. He gave me so many gifts growing up and was my rock through my turbulent teenage years. The most invaluable gift he gave me...
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