All posts tagged: teens

One-on-One Time with the Kids: A Date With My Son

Published by

1 on 1 time with each kid.  New Year’s resolution.  Somehow it happens more naturally with my daughter, 10.  We just find ourselves together.  My son and I used to find ourselves together.  Building Lego houses.  Making caterpillar homes.  Shooting hoops.  Now four inches shorter than he, I’m barely lucky to block his shot, with no hope of ever scooting past him with a soccer ball or football.  My only hope is to win the tiebreaker in ping-pong. He’s 13, and 1:1 time is just different now. How about breakfast out?  A date with my son.  Just the mention of Belgian waffles and bacon gets him to look up.  That’s it.  Our first official New Year’s Resolution Date. Uh-oh.  What do we talk about?  I mean, we spend time doing things together.  Um, as a family.  But this new 1:1 time . . . with my teenage son . . . at breakfast . . . is a little new. With my quiet and independent guy (“thanks, Mom, but I’ve really got it all covered,”), …

Are You & Your Kids Ready . . . Just in case??

Published by

As parents, we wonder (sometimes constantly) if our kids are ready.  Ready for kindergarten.  Ready to ride the bus.  Ready to be “dropped off” without mom.  With each new stage, comes new questions of “readiness.”  Sometimes we prepare them; and sometimes, they can suddenly prepare us.  Whether we’re ready or not. Be ready.  Be ready to be their leader, their source of information, their “at that moment” teacher of values.  Some things come quickly with these kids, especially in this rapidly developing world in which we live.  Be ready.  I can help.  I can help your kids too (and have them laugh along the way). Check out my books and their reviews.  They’ve helped a lot of parents, caregivers, kids . . . to be ready . . . for so much.  For girls, I suggest a Just In Case pouch.  Yep.  A Pouch.  Just in case.  Read on, check out my books.  There’s that . . . and more . . . awaiting to help you and your middle graders be ready . . .

Spring Has Sprung! Has Your Teen?

Published by

Spring. Spring Break. And How to Get Your Teen to Spring Up With It. Whether Uncle Sam is leaving you with a little extra spending money this spring, or he’s collecting his dues, there are lots of different ways you can enjoy the burst of spring — and the break it brings — with your kids (and maybe even get your teens to spring up too). There is the typical travel to the typical destinations (who doesn’t love a spring break trip?  WooHoo!).  Yet check out these 5-Under-The-Radar-Spring-Break-Getaways. Many of these are in specific locales, yet similar venues exist in numerous geographic areas . . . perhaps even yours. Having a spring break staycation? What a perfect way to re-group. While you’re staying and cationing, maybe there are some jaunts you can take to spring up your teen and get the springtime endorphins flowing throughout the family. Consider an IMAX theater showing. In various science centers, museums and other locations, IMAX movies can offer a delight into nature and adventure, and can generally appeal to …

So We Chatted About Chores and Shared Some Great Ideas

Published by

How do your kids help around the house and how do you hold them to it? Do they complain? Do they get paid or are they simply expected to help out because they are part of the family? In our Twitter chat today, we shared experiences, commiserated, and shed some light on new ideas. Some parents pay their kids for chores – at the end of the week, according to how many they’ve done. Some kids earn “tech” money (time for electronics) at week’s end, upon the completion of chores. Other parents simply expect the kids to do the chores — because they live in the house. Those kids may also receive an allowance – separate from the chores – merely as a money management learning tool. Lots of ways, lots of options. It just depends what works for each of us, and our families. How do we get these kids do their chores? Reminders, certainly, reminders. Reminders for these distracted teens. One mom writes down the chores on a dry-erase board as the kids …

So Your Son Wants to Shave

Published by

So your son wants to shave. Maybe you’re not sure if he’s ready – or better yet – if you’re ready. Shaving is one of those big milestones – a rite of passage. Some boys may be eager to start shaving while others may need some prodding when it clearly appears to be time. Boys do not need to start shaving as soon as their facial hair appears. It all depends on how he —and you—feel about him shaving. Boys may notice more facial hair as early as 9 or as late as 15, but most boys will not have enough facial hair to shave on a regular basis until they are well into their teens. If your son is interested in shaving, it’s really (just another) consideration for you and him. Consider his thoughts, feelings and desires about it. To many boys, it is a “manly” thing to do, and some may be eager to do it. If your son is interested, but you’re not sure if he “needs” to, talk to him about …

Teens . . . And Their Space

Published by

Teens – and their growing need for space. We’re sure finding it in our home. We just “finished” our basement. Real walls, paint and everything. It was once a cellar, crammed with precious “stuff.” Needless to say, we are all thrilled. Especially my 13 year old. Did I mention we never see him? Sorta figured that might happen. Everything has its benefits and costs. He just . . . well . . . likes his space down there. He does occasionally come up. For snacks . . . and dinner . . . and such. You see the picture. It might even resemble your own. What is it with these teens and—their need for—privacy? Away from . . . us? As our teens develop, they need their privacy. It’s one of those developmentally appropriate things. They reach that stage, as they are growing and maturing…in so many different ways…that they want to be thought of as being mature, capable, and able to have some independence. They want us to trust them to be such, and …