Looking at small babies, it is easy to think only of the positives. I remember the quiet times: the cozy cuddles, the soft pats, the sweet coos, that unmistakable baby smell. I don’t let my mind go to the shrill screams, the smell of the diaper pail, the sleepless nights. The positive memories very much…
Enthusiasm for Childhood Favorites Is Not Limited to Old Folks
As our kids enter middle school a seriousness descends on them. Anything associated with small children is “childish” and must be forsaken. As a stay at home parent who was present when friends were over, I noted that this opinion was flexible; it really only came out when peers were present. If alone in the…
15 Teen-Approved Ways to Say I Love You
Each February, after we get over the excitement of a weather-predicting rodent, the world becomes full of pink and red hearts and silly bow-and-arrow-carrying cherubs. It is natural around this time to think about ways to let our loved ones know how we feel. Though teenagers sometimes act as though they don’t want to give…
When You Know You’re Parenting Teenagers
The years tend to sneak up. One day you bring a newborn home, and then you blink and have a sassy school age child. Another blink and you have a small adult in front of you. Of course children grow and become more independent all this time, but it happens gradually, in small ways…
How to Find Stories That Will Make Them Put Down the Smartphone
Last month was Family History Month. As we move into November and December, many of us are likely to get together with family, both old and young. In today’s busy families, the holidays may be the only time generations get to spend time together. This can be a cause for joy and angst. Just because…
Are Teens Too Old to Trick-or-Treat?
Teenagers occupy a strange in-between world. They are no longer children, but they are not yet adults. They are quick to abandon “babylike” things, then almost as quick to regret that they have done so. It is during the teen years that many of us start to wonder why we ever wished so hard to…
How to Cope When Your Teen Says, “Don’t Call Me Pumpkin!”
Many parents have pet names for their children, often from the time they are young. Things like Princess, Slugger, Buddy, Bubba, and yes, Pumpkin. Sometimes these nicknames are then picked up by other family members and friends, even when they don’t know the origin. Some nicknames stick through life, others fall by the wayside when…
Why You Should Encourage “Know it All” Behavior
Teenagers know everything. They are experts on technology, on relationships, on music, on whatever is trending nowadays. They are also unafraid to let adults know this. When challenged, they will frequently engage in sighs, eye rolls, or outright belligerence. There is, however, a way to harness this energy. There are valuable skills to be learned,…
How to Cope When Your Teen Starts Dating
It seems to happen overnight. The child you nurtured for more than a decade all of a sudden looks like a baby-faced adult. Then there are the more subtle signs: showers without nagging, more attention to clothing choices, caring if things “match.” Maybe there are whispered conversations with friends and shy behavior around the opposite…