This post about how to get your your kid ready for college is sponsored by Artis. All opinions expressed here are my own. Last year, my son started the college application process. To be honest, it was utter chaos. My husband and I were completely clueless as to how to help him get into college. And navigating the college admissions process was terrifying. In fact, while he was applying to colleges, we realized something important. There were things that he SHOULD have done as early as Freshman … [Read more...]
Tips for Encouraging a Positive Body Image in Girls
March 13, 2019 by · Leave a Comment
Encouraging a positive body image in girls can be challenging. You are fighting against female stereotypes and unrealistic body image ideas from the media. Teenage girls are more concerned with what their peers think than what YOU tell them is real. How do you promote a positive body image? I thought I would share a few tips to encourage parents to discuss the topic of healthy body image with their daughters. What Influences Body Image? You might be surprised at what influences body image ideas in your … [Read more...]
Easy Shaving Tips for Teenage Boys
February 17, 2019 by · Leave a Comment
This post about easy shaving tips for teenage boys has been sponsored. All opinions are my own. he reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product. I am the proud mom of one teenage boy. If you have sons, you will probably understand the unique challenges that come with raising these testosterone fueled creatures. One of the joys of raising boys is teaching your son to shave. This is not just a one day projects. In fact, I think we have been giving him shaving … [Read more...]
Raising Teenagers and the Art of Compromise
February 4, 2019 by · 7 Comments
Raising teenagers is incredibly challenging. It is both a joy and a struggle on a daily basis. You must find a balance between loving the heck out of them and navigating a minefield. Learning the art of compromise will help ease your parenting problems as you raise teenagers in a complicated society. I thought I would share a few things I have learned over the years of parenting teenagers in my own home. Raising Teenagers and the Art of Compromise When my children were little, I had complete control over their … [Read more...]
Mental Health and Teens: How Parents Can Help
November 19, 2018 by · 2 Comments
This post about mental health and teens has been sponsored by BetterHelp. All opinions are my own. Parenting teens can be incredibly challenging. This is a time in their lives when hormones are raging and they have an intense desire to not communicate with their parents. Academic stress, societal expectations, and interpersonal relationships create challenges in their lives that they NEED to talk about. How do parents help their teenagers tackle the stress of these chaotic years? And where can teens and … [Read more...]
Advice for my Son: Those First Few Steps Are Always the Hardest
October 8, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
This advice for my son is part of a paid campaign with The Mission List and the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. All opinions are my own. The last two months have been incredibly emotional for me. I sent my first born off to college 2 months ago. There were tears (both mine and his), the worry over college costs, and the chaos of shopping and moving. Where did my baby go? How is this college kid the very same boy who struggled to read in kindergarten? Then and now.... how did we get here so fast? Advice for my … [Read more...]
How to Nurture Creativity in Teens
September 20, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
This post about how to nurture creativity in teens has been sponsored. All opinions are my own. I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. When my children were younger, nurturing creativity was easy. Our art closet was stocked with every type of art supply you could image. Along with odds and ends like egg crates, fabric scraps and empty yogurt cups. They had free reign when it came to glue and glitter and it was a glorious mess that inspired creative … [Read more...]
What To Do for Teens Who Need Help with Getting a Job
August 28, 2018 by · 2 Comments
Is your teenager struggling to find a job? While a lot of the responsibility is on them when it comes to employment, there are things you can do to help teens who are looking for work. Not sure how you as a parent can help? Well, if you are wondering what to do for teens who need help with getting a job, I thought I would share a few easy suggestions! Teen Employment: Then vs Now When I was a teen, I walked into the grocery store at the age of 15 and was hired immediately. I had been babysitting and delivering newspapers for years. … [Read more...]
Important Life Lessons for Kids to Ensure Long Term Success
June 20, 2018 by · 2 Comments
When your child is born, you learn how to change diapers, cook dinner one handed, and treat a fever without panicking. There are parenting books to teach you those kinds of things. But there are no parenting books teaching you the important life lessons for kids that you need to make sure they learn. It kind of freaks me out some days the number of important life lessons I am expected to teach my children. Not just the normal stuff like how to do laundry and cook for yourself so that they can survive on their own once I kick them out. … [Read more...]
A Message for my Daughter About Acting Her Age
January 22, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
I am writing a message for my daughter about acting her age as part of the #DisruptAging campaign. This post is made possible with support from AARP’s Disrupt Aging. All opinions are my own. When my children were young, they were very tall for their age. That means at age five, they were the size of an 8 year old. Which meant that when they ACTED five, they got some very nasty looks from people who wanted them to 'act their age'. The age they ASSUMED my children were, anyhow. It created a lot of stress for me and probably unreasonable … [Read more...]
