Motherhood is a trip . . . are we there yet?
Original publish date: April 7, 2011 I’m an avid reader, enjoying everything from classic American literature to true crime. But nothing is more interesting to me than understanding my children and improving my parenting skills—and finding out if it’s even possible to change your behaviors in order to help your kids. Parenting teenagers is especially…
Original publish date: April 7, 2011 It figures—after being so frustrated with my daughter and what she DOESN’T do, she goes and DOES something lovely that makes me forget all about it. She has the gift of a close, warm relationship with her grandmother, my mother, and she fully appreciates it—and yesterday , she showed…
Original publish date: April 6, 2011 Venting time. This has been a frustrating week with my daughter. She hasn’t been “bad” and hasn’t gotten into trouble, so that’s not it. It’s the day-to-day annoyances that are getting to me. I have to ask her repeatedly to do something, which she pleasantly promises she will do,…
Original publish date: April 5, 2011 “I love you with all my heart. I can’t wait until we move into our new house. We’ll have so much time together.” That is a recent text from my “troubled teen.” I put that in quotations purposely—that’s what a mother will wait a lifetime to hear, and when…
Original publish date: March 31, 2011 My younger daughter has been so testy lately. She jumps at everything I say, and talks to me like I’m ridiculous. I feel like she’s 14 again, and it sucks. It starts out okay and I measure my words, but it’s not long before I hear, “Stop it” or…
Original publish date: March 31, 2011 You can sometimes find us:
Original publish date: March 30, 2011 My older daughter never had the same issues as my younger one with depression or hyperactivity or even rebellion. Her problems arose in college. She noticed that she was having trouble finishing her work or paying attention to lectures. I thought maybe she was too interested in her social…
Original publish date: March 30, 2011 Both my children take prescription medication on a regular basis. There, I said it. I’m not proud nor ashamed of this fact; it is what it is. I resisted it for a long time—not sure if I was in denial that they needed drugs for their issues or if…
Original publish date: March 30, 2011 My girls don’t really mind my company at times. I’ve been known to be fun—as long as we’re doing what they like to do! We’ve found some common interests—though I’m happy just spending time with my children when they’re amenable, lucid, open, or just plain willing to indulge me…
Original publish date: March 30, 2011 This is a really sensible, albeit liberal, article from an Ann Landers column from a long time ago. It’s been shared and modified a hundred times, but it’s still interesting stuff. Thought I’d pass it on. 6 Things for Parents of Teenagers to Stop Doing (and what to do…