7/14/2011 Written by Ronit Baras (2008) Last week, I wrote about the things that parents say that turn off communication between them and their teens. Today, I would like to talk about the buttons teens push to set their parents off and “make” them lose their minds. From their early years, kids have an inherent sense of their parents’ weaknesses. They learn it by themselves – they do not need to go to school to study what works and what does…
7/13/2011 Well, my darling daughter is registered for college! She’s Über excited about it and I’m so proud of her for taking this step—she handled everything herself except paying the tuition. I have my silent reservations about how she’ll handle it, as she doesn’t have the best track record for school. But I’m giving way to trust and hope, and giving her the benefit of the doubt—and I’ll keep my big mouth shut. Judging by how seriously she takes work, I…
7/11/2011 Do parents who pry know more about their teen’s lives? Published on April 11, 2011 by Nancy Darling, Ph.D. in Thinking About Kids I knew my youngest was entering adolescence, when my daily mucking out of his backpack was met with a yell. “Get out! That’s MINE!” One of the hallmarks of adolescence is that teens demand—and parents grant them—more privacy. Children have few expectations for privacy from parents. Adolescents expect more. Late adolescents and adults expect a great deal of control over what information…
7/2/2011 Do cellphones help teenagers feel more independent, or are they an electronic leash? Poor communication is a common complaint when it comes to parents and teenagers. What happens when you throw a cellphone into the mix? At least 75 percent of American teenagers today have a cellphone, often purchased by their parents so they can stay in closer touch. And parents are more likely than other adults to have a cellphone, for the same reason. “The phone is now…
7/2/2011 It’s hard to make a judgment whether I respect our juvenile court system. My first thought, after spending the morning at the county juvenile courthouse, is that it’s no wonder kids repeat offenses and have no fear of being caught. I was over-prepared, as usual, and made sure my daughter was as well. We had all our documents in folders, had turned in all requested forms and statements, and dressed like we were going to court. During the 45-minute trip…
6/27/2011 A good Sunday to report. I took my daughter and her “best friend” to a play: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. It was so enjoyable to share a cultural event with them, and remind them that there’s good drama that has nothing to do with the island they live on. We all thoroughly enjoyed the show and we went out for a lunch afterward and had a nice conversation. At lunch, I just had to ask some pointed questions. I had…
6/24/2011 I seriously thought this was quiz that was created with ME in mind. See what you think and what it all means here: DO YOU HAVE PARENTAL BURNOUT?Here’s a help-wanted ad you won’t see in your local paper: Seeking woman with energy, willing to work twenty-four hours a day. Must be patient, loving, wise, dependable, and organized. Must be able to cook, sew, shop, clean, and quickly learn new methods necessary for keeping a household happy and cared for….
6/24/2011 This is a great question. What do you think? Would you? Cindy Anthony’s Testimony: Would You Lie for Your Child? June 24, 2011 10:11 am by Jenna Hatfield, BlogHer Original Post Yesterday, Casey Anthony’s mom, Cindy, dropped a bombshell on the Caylee Anthony murder trial. She said — under oath — that she was the one who searched for chloroform on the family computer. The prosecution has always used this as their form a smoking gun to prove intent on…
6/23/2011 Within the last week, I’ve spoken to the new probation officer assigned to my daughter’s case, for which she’s appearing next week. I had a great conversation with the woman, and she clearly is convinced that my daughter is nothing less than a saint—two jobs, enrolling in school, “thinking of” volunteering for Habitat for Humanity…Why wouldn’t she? I talked her up for an hour, explaining that she had a tough time for a while, that she is now being…
6/23/2011 Our lives have been hectic. My stepfather died on June 5, 2011. He was 79 and in terrible health due to years of massive, addictive smoking. It caused him to have emphysema, heart problems, asthma, and a myriad of other problems. I believe he was on more than 15 medications, some of which he filled under my name or my mother’s name. He mostly self-subscribed, as he was a doctor himself. My daughter loved him very much and this…