The suicide statistics are startling. Since 2007… Suicide rates have increased by 76% for ages 15-18. Suicide rates have nearly doubled in teen girls. The highest rate of increase in suicide among all age groups is in kids between 10 and 14 years old. Depressive symptoms are up 21% in boys, and up 50% in…
5 Conversation Killers That Will Shut Down Good Communication in Your Home
Good communication in any home is the glue that holds the family together. It is the grease that will keep family members moving in sync. It is the foundation that will help your family weather the storms. Conversely, there are habits and behaviors that will shut healthy communication down quickly. If you are wondering why…
6 Reasons to Ask for Parenting Advice
Sometimes it’s hard to ask for parenting advice. As moms and dads, it’s humbling to admit that we don’t’ have all the answers. But the honest truth is that parents have a huge learning handicap; there’s really no way to properly prepare for all the challenges that parenting throws at you. Our kids, after all,…
When Other Kids Are Bullying with Words, How Should Your Child Respond?
Has your child been the victim of bullying with words? When I was a child, my mother always told me that sticks and stones would break my bones, but words could not hurt me. Though her intentions were good, the real truth is that words DO hurt. In fact, they can hurt a child just…
Cutting Down on Fireworks in Your Home
Did you enjoy the fireworks this past weekend? Or maybe there were some fireworks in your home as well? Last week I discussed 5 rules for fighting when conflicts arise in your home. But obviously, cutting down on the amount of fighting would a more desirable goal. Yesterday, fireworks were part of a national celebration….
Show Your Kids How To Fight: 5 Rules to Follow When in Conflict
In order to show your kids how to fight, you must begin with accepting that conflict is a normal part of a healthy relationship. Conflict is not something to be avoided or feared. When handled correctly, it actually provides an opportunity for relationships to deepen. When I was growing up, my parents frowned on sibling…
Helping Your Child Grow Up Through Pruning
Helping your child grow up is not just about proving the physical needs for their life. It includes hard stuff like “pruning.” Every landscaper or gardener knows the importance of pruning bushes and trees. They trim plants by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems to increase fruitfulness and growth. An unpruned vine will…
Getting Teens to Open Up: What’s the Secret?
Believe it or not, your teens really do care what you think. According to this study, boys (82%) and girls (76%) said they valued their parents’ opinions over their friends’ when it came to serious decisions. If you struggle to communicate with your teen, you may think that it’s because they don’t listen to you…
How to Raise a Safe Teen Driver
Safe teen driver. No, that is not an oxymoron. You can prepare your teen and guide them to being safe drivers. Maybe the whole license thing is bitter sweet for you: you’re looking forward to giving your teen more freedom and at the same time you are nervous about the risk that comes when they…
Getting Kids to Cooperate: 4 Ways to Guarantee it Won’t Happen
Getting kids to cooperate is a daily challenge for parents and as a parenting coach, I spend a lot of time coaching parents on how to get their kids to do that. Today, however, I am going to approach it from the opposite spectrum and talk about ways that parents can pretty much guarantee that…