Slammed doors, screaming matches, missed curfews — classic symptoms of an out-of control kid, according to family therapist Terry Real, ABC contributor and founder of Relational Life Institute. Continue reading { 1 comment }
Posts tagged as: teens
Slammed doors, screaming matches, missed curfews — classic symptoms of an out-of control kid, according to family therapist Terry Real, ABC contributor and founder of Relational Life Institute. Continue reading 
We’ve all been glued to the TV sets, watching as Haiti copes with the tragic aftermath of a devastating earthquake. As a result, you might be struggling with how to talk to your children about the disaster and how to protect them from news-overload. Continue reading
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When you think about teens and substance abuse, you probably imagine scary scenarios involving alcohol or illegal drugs. I doubt the bathroom cabinet even flashes through your mind. Continue reading
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The only thing worse than being a tween who is the victim of the class Queen Bee is being the mom of that tormented tween. In her bestselling book Queen Bees & Wannabes, first published in 2002 (you might know it as the basis for the movie Mean Girls), Rosiland Wiseman provided insight into the often cruel world of cliques and gossip. Continue reading
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Tips for Supporting Teens with their Applications

Dear Annie,I have a 17-year-old daughter who is applying to college. She’s a great kid, but I’m really worried that given how competitive it is these days to get into a good school, she isn’t going to be able to get all her strengths across if she writes her essay herself. What’s your advice?
Melissa
Dear Melissa,
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How to support your child and avoid homework hassles.
1. Provide a good work space: Many of us grew up believing that the best place to do homework was alone in a quiet room at a tidy desk, sharpened pencils in hand. But lots of kids do better sprawled on their bedroom floor or sitting at the kitchen table. Let your child pick the spot; just make sure there’s a relatively clutter-free surface on which to write, good light, and no TV or blaring music. Continue reading
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Dear Annie,
When my son was young, I had this perfect vision of his future teenage self and all his friends making our house the place to "hang out." Now that he’s 12 and quite popular, he only wants to go to other people’s homes. The last time his friends were over, I felt like I was intruding or embarrassing him every time I stuck my head in his room.
Kate
Dear Kate, Continue reading
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Putting annoying adolescent behavior in perspective
One of the most useful parenting techniques I ever learned was reframing. The idea is to relabel behavior in order to gain a more constructive perspective, thereby shifting from "I think I may have to kill you" to "I understand that what you did may be out of your control." Continue reading
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Be careful what you say about your party days
It’s no secret that your teenager’s peers can affect his or her decision to drink underage. But what if the influential teen is you-at age 16? As part of a science talent search, 17-year-old Chelsea Jurman, of Roslyn Heights, New York, surveyed 123 of her classmates. Her results suggest that teen attitudes toward drinking and their drinking behavior correlate with their perception of their parents’ teenage alcohol use. Continue reading
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Dear Annie,
Reminding my kids (6 and 8 years old) to help with chores, whether it’s cleaning up their rooms or helping with dinner, is a nightmare. They whine and "why" me to death. I hear myself saying things I swore I’d never say, like "Because I said so!" But bargaining for every tiny task is driving me crazy.
Sarah
Dear Sarah, Continue reading
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