We all want our kids to be popular—or do we? The perks of a membership to the In Crowd certainly exist, but there are definite pitfalls to popularity.

I recently had psychologist and MomLogic contributor Wendy Walsh, Ph. D. on my show to discuss the negative effects of being part of the “cool” clique.

“A recent study that followed a group of eighth graders for a year found that the most popular ones acted out the group norms more aggressively and led the way in to some forms of delinquency and some drug use,” Walsh says. The healthiest place for you child on the popularity scale? Probably somewhere in the middle, Walsh says.

See my complete interview with Dr. Walsh below for tips on how to help your teen handle peer problems.

I’ve done a lot of things right as a mom, but when it came to homework hassles, I deserved an “F.” My eldest would ask for my help, then complain that I was doing too much. My son Nick would ask me to explain a math problem and would break into a cold sweat and tell him “I stink at math” (really good modeling!). So when it came time to help him with college prep, I was thrilled to schedule a few one-on-one tutorials with Matt Butler, founder of the Butler Method. I didn’t need to review calculus, but I certainly did need to learn to butt out.

In the present economy, satisfying all the desires on your child’s wish list may be a challenge. But lose the guilt if you need to cut back this year — the best gift you can give your child is a trove of holiday memories with you, memories that don’t include anxiety about your family finances. In this video, I’ll tell you why tightening your belt during the holidays is not only possible but may have a silver lining when it comes to the message you’re sending your children.  

Santa and his reindeer might soar over rooftops as they travel this holiday season, but the vast majority of us will be buckling up and hitting the road to get to Grandma’s.While your fantasy drive might include well-behaved children singing carols in the backseat, car trips with the kids can be a tad, well, bumpy. A little preparation, however, goes a long way when it comes to arriving healthy and happy. Watch here for my tips about car safety and here to learn how you can keep kids entertained during the drive.

On TV, he was Dr. Jason Seaver, the lovable dad-next-door on Growing Pains. Who knew he had great real-life stories about fatherhood, too? In his new very funny and very wise book, How To Raise Kids Who Won’t Hate You, Thicke chronicles the good, the bad, and the ugly — it’s a Dr. Phil meets Dave Barry confessional, and one entertaining and enlightening read. Watch my interview with Thicke, below. 

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. Given the explosion of Facebook, Twitter and the like, Wiseman decided an update was warranted. In the newly revised edition, aptly subtitled Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World, she takes a fresh look at the new virtual weapons that equip girls with even more ways to pick on, make fun of, and isolate their peers.

I remember watching my daughter Maddie when she was little, as she would rock her baby dolls. Comments like, ‘You’re going to be such a good mommy when you grow up, honey’ would easily roll off my tongue. But with my son Nick, whenever he acted tenderly toward a doll or stuffed animal, I had to remind myself to tell him, ‘You’re going to be such a good daddy.’ After reading Lise Eliot’s Pink Brain, Blue Brain, I’m especially glad I made the effort.

To hear more tips on raising children without gender bias, listen to my interview with Lise Eliot: