Feb 13 2010
88. {12/18/09} Today I walked into the living room, turned off the tellie, and told my daughter she was going with me to my chiropractor appointment. I’m becoming more assertive as a parent and it feels good for everyone.
Jan 27 2010
70. {11/30/09} Instead of taking over from a place of frustration and judgment, I let my teenage daughter deal with a situation herself and it all worked out.
Jan 13 2010
56. {11/16/09} I am so proud of myself for calmly getting us through what could have been a major disaster. I really can’t share the details as they aren’t mine to share, but I can tell you that I faced some serious parenting fears. I got through it by:
Jan 12 2010
55. {11/15/09} I had a heart-wrenching experience today. My teenage daughter is going through some major stuff and as a parent I am often confused, triggered, and totally baffled by her process. But, I am so proud of myself for consistently sharing the truth about my observations, my feelings, and my intuition. I’ve also called her on her behavior without shouting and sometimes that is so hard when all I want to do is ring her neck. But, that is just fear and I have the strength, courage, and know-how to walk through these fears – even when they involve my baby. Oy! I trust we are going to make it through this.
Aug 21 2009
Teens, no texting while driving
photo courtesy of Ford Driving Skills for Life
I received this from a friend and absolutely had to share it with you:
As parents of young drivers I though you may find this an interesting contrast.
The California method of stopping teenagers from texting while driving seems to be to make it illegal with a fairly mild penalty and then expect them to not do it.
The UK method is to continue a method of road safety advertising that has worked well for the last 15 years: Scare the crap out of them with TV adverts which if they didn’t count as public service broadcasts would never be allowed on TV.
Warning, it is very graphic. But then that’s the whole point:
It certainly is disturbing and quite honestly, I teared up. It does seem like a great way to show teens a dangerous consequence for something that seems like no big deal (texting while driving). One thing to keep in mind is that the teenage brain is not yet mature. The part of the brain that makes decisions based on long-term thinking versus immediate gratification isn’t mature yet. So, parents be sure to have supportive structures (like turn your phone off before you start the car) in place in the meantime.
For those of you who dared to watch this video, what do you think about it? Do you think it’s an effective tool to deter teens from text driving?
Aug 20 2009
What a fun and fast read! Ever since I read the Twilight series I’ve been devouring all sorts of vampire books. I had no idea there were so many! This one was definitely catchy. Yeah, there were some parts that were kinda hokey, but the writing was sharp. I could see all the action clearly in my mind and I didn’t get the numerous characters confused.
Surprisingly enough there is some great advice in this book for parents of teens. Sometimes it’s easier to see into the life of a teen who isn’t your child. There’s less of an edge to it. I really liked this part when the main character talked about wanting her mom to simply wrap her arms around her and tell her it’s okay. As parents, we have a tendency to make it a lot harder than it is. The truth is a simple hug and a few words of encouragement go a long way.
One of my other favorite parts is when the leader of the vampyre high school told the fledglings who were going through the change to live their life to the absolute fullest as if today was their last (partly because they really could die at any time – sometimes their body rejected the change) because if they did die, then they would leave behind a great legacy and if they didn’t die, then they had already created a solid foundation for potentially centuries of greatness. How cool is that? What great advice!
Aug 09 2009
This past week I got to hang out with my extended family…
My sister and friend, Nancy and me
My sister Nancy’s daughter Ellie
The two of them together
Telling secrets
Giving kisses
Havin’ Fun
Like Mother Like Daughter
My Sister, Mom and Me
Such a Sweet Moment
Mom plays with her Ellie
My daughter cuts hair! Can you believe it?
Leave…
…me…
…alone!
Click here to view Sarcastic Mom’s winners from this week – she is amazing!
May 17 2009
This book wil NOT teach you new parenting skills and strategies. It will give you a comprehensive understanding of a potentially boring and dry topic (brain development) in an interesting and readable way. The author (a health and medical science editor) weaves in personal stories with facts and research findings about the teenage brain, which makes this non-fiction book a page turner.
The bottom line is that the human brain is under major construction (some might even say destruction!) during the teen years and if you’re frustrated with your teen’s inability to think things through ahead of time, then stop judging your teen and your parenting skills and read this book. This is ground-breaking news that every parent should know because it will change how you look at your teen and your expectations. Add this knowledge to your parenting toolbox today.
p.s. There is also some interesting information about the toddler brain in this book, so if you have babies and young children I highly recommend you read this book too. Besides the more you know before your child is a tween and teen, the better off you are!
Nov 22 2008
I have a teenage daughter. Currently, The Girl is 15 and a sophomore in high school. I know that staying connected with her is the key to getting through these tumultuous years – in fact, I’m sure there’s a scientific study to prove it – and yet, staying connected is one of the hardest things to do because we’re so good at triggering one another.
I am also a trained life coach. I run a private coaching practice and I love creating new products and programs to support my clients. Earlier this year, I sat down and started writing out ideas to help parents and teens connect. I even drew this picture:
After I created it, I realized that the binder full of notes and drawings wasn’t just 7 Simple Ways for teens and parents to connect. It was a process that anyone could use to create deeper connections, resolve conflicts, and improve relationships. Wow! How cool is that? I was even surprised with how it turned out, which is a common reaction when following divine inspiration. More on that later, for now…
You are invited to sign up and receive the 7 Simple Ways to Connect eCourse!
What is it?
The 7 Simple Ways to Connect eCourse is a guide to deepening your connections with yourself and others, resolving conflict, and improving your relationships. Here is the Table of Contents:
WELCOME!………………………………………………………………….. 4
GUIDELINES & PRE-WORK …………………………………………….. 5
PREPARATION……………………………………………………………… 7
SIMPLE WAY #1: ACCEPTANCE………………………… 8
SIMPLE WAY #2: BELIEVE ……………………………….. 9
COMMUNICATION……………………………………………………….. 10
SIMPLE WAY #3: SHARE…………………………………. 11
SIMPLE WAY #4: ASK…………………………………….. 12
SIMPLE WAY #5: LISTEN…………………………………. 13
COOPERATION …………………………………………………………….. 14
SIMPLE WAY #6: PROMISE ………………………………. 15
CELEBRATION………………………………………………………………… 16
SIMPLE WAY #7: HAVE FUN! …………………………… 17
DAILY PRACTICE SHEET ………………………………………………….. 18
How does it work?
The 7 Simple Ways to Connect eCourse is delivered one Simple Way at a time over 3 weeks. Once you sign up, you will receive the guidelines and pre-work. The next day you will receive Simple Way #1 and then every three days you will receive the next lesson until you’ve received them all. This gives you the time and space to practice each Simple Way before receiving the next one.
Who is it for?
The 7 Simple Ways to Connect eCourse is perfect for:
How do I sign up?
Simply enter your name and email to get started now:
Aug 30 2008
