As my children move into high school and we start thinking more and more about college, I find myself worrying about raising a well rounded teenager. Academics have never been a problem for my kids. I am incredibly lucky that both my children were accepted into the gifted program early on in elementary school and good grades come fairly easily for them. But, raising a well rounded child is about so much more than grades!How Do You Become A Well Rounded Teenager? As my kids get older, the schools are starting to … [Read more...]
How to Talk to Teens About Underage Drinking
May 1, 2019 by · 3 Comments
Parenting teenagers is hard work. You have to find a balance between being their parent and having them not hate you. Figuring out how to talk to teens about underage drinking is tough. However, it is one aspect of parenting teens that may very well save their life. Parenting Teens is Tough But We'll Survive! Children are naturally inquisitive creatures. They ask an assortment of questions ranging from 'why is the sky blue' to 'why do farts smell'. Yes, I have a boy.....I'm not sure girls ask as many … [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...]
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...]
How to Find a Good Babysitter That You Really Trust!
October 18, 2018 by · Leave a Comment
This post about how to find a good babysitter has been sponsored. All opinions are my own.When my children were younger, my husband and I had no idea how to find a babysitter we could actually trust. I mean, these were my precious children, right? I couldn't leave them with someone who I didn't know. What kind of person were they when they weren't in front of me saying 'Yes, ma'am' and 'thank you'? Finding good babysitters isn't easy but with a few of these tips and some help from Predictim, it IS possible to find someone trustworthy … [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...]
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...]
Back to School Teen Shopping Tips for Less Stress and More Fashion!
August 27, 2018 by · 3 Comments
Gone are the days when I could go out to the store and leave my kids home with dad while I shopped for their clothes. Back to school shopping used to mean that my husband spent a couple hours playing with the kids and I headed to the mall for some peace and quiet. Yes, when you have small children, malls are considered QUIET places!If you are blessed with teens like I am, you have probably learned that they are not as easy to shop for as smaller children. So, in an effort to keep the peace in my house I have come up with a few shopping … [Read more...]
Turn Summer Chores for Kids into Smart Money Management
June 19, 2018 by · 6 Comments
This post about summer chores for kids and smart money management has been sponsored by BusyKid. All opinions are my own.Ever since my kids were young, they have been given chores. Since we live in the burbs, they aren't out milking cows at 5 Am but I try to make sure they have a few things to do most days. Since they have a lot more free time during the summer, they have more chores to go along with more free time.Summer chores for kids are a great way to teach them responsibility. It also lightens your own workload at the same … [Read more...]
Balancing a Plentiful Life with Community Volunteering Keeps Kids Grounded
April 16, 2018 by · 7 Comments
This post about balancing a plentiful life with community volunteering has been sponsored by Reward Volunteers. All opinions are my own.I look around the area I live in and am both awed and slightly shocked by the wealth that surrounds us. My teens’ friends have homes with actual media rooms in them. Many had the newest iPhone by age 8. They often get brand new cars for their 16th birthday. This is not the way we raised our children. I don't want them to think this is common for most people. My husband and I are financially stable but … [Read more...]
