As parents, we are often frustrated that our teenagers do not get it. The it in this case is usually some version of adult responsibility or point of view. I am often struck by just how disparate the teenager and adult worlds are, yet, we grown-ups forget what it feels Read more
Pomp Circumstance Family Photos Diploma Congratulations! You have a high school graduate in the house, and although there is much to be excited about, the teenage years are far from over. In fact, many parents are surprised to find that they are still raising a teenager, even if their teen Read more
I am the mother of three Puerto-Rican bred, North American girls who are also bilingual. And so my husband and I focus on developing their cultural literacy in age-appropriate ways on a regular basis. We can’t assume, though, that they will become global citizens solely by virtue of their cultural Read more
Naturally, when our children are in high school, we are focused on academic achievement. After all, grades begin to count for college and parents are abuzz with nervous anticipation about whether or not their child has what it takes to be accepted into a “good” college. However, two issues may Read more
NPR’s Planet Money recently ran a story about Madeline Messer, a 12 year old girl who wrote an op ed piece for the Washington Post about how unfair it was that she had to pay extra to play her favorite video game with a female character. She researched more than Read more
Camp does change lives. You may make a new friend, discover a hidden talent, take a risk, become an integral part of a group, find a passion, conquer a fear, learn something that inspires you for the rest of your life, become confident, build new skills, and grow as an Read more
You know the saying, “save the drama for your mama?” Many teenagers do just that. Teens are inclined to vent to their parents, using emotional hyperbole to drive home a point, so we can get a sense of exactly how strongly they are feeling about a subject…in that moment. Many Read more
Many parents today are putting in overtime hours to make sure their teenager never experiences academic failure, but to what end? Exhausted working parents are running around Staples late at night grabbing poster board and glue stick for a forgotten project, or spending hours trying to squeeze the best possible Read more
Anyone who has ever been married or in a long-term partnership, whether successfully or not, can attest to the fact that good relationships take time, effort and practice. It may be hard to imagine that the mercurial nature of your teenager's dating experiences may actually be helpful and healthy. Yet, Read more
When I was little, it seemed to snow and snow all winter. I grew up in Maryland but if it was winter there was snow and ice. Snow to sled on and ice to skate on. Well, actually sledding was more like careening – as fast as you could, over Read more
