Try This Now Instead of New Year’s Resolutions

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] In anticipation of this New Year, instead of making huge resolutions about how to improve yourself or your kids, how about trying a different parenting approach? It starts with a non-action: taking stock of what you’ve got going on already. Taking stock begins with separating...

Read More

My Teenager Is Judging Me: How Do I Play It Cool?

Critical thinking is an important skill that serves us long after we leave our parents house. If you want to raise a critical thinker, you teach your child how to have her own opinions. However, while your teen still lives with you,...

Read More

Easy Solutions for 5 Common High School Problems

Unfortunately, a hallmark of teenagedom is the tendency to shut out all parental help. Since teens are not likely to express their struggles clearly ("I hate school!" doesn't count),  I am going to do it for them.  Here are 5 easy solutions for...

Read More

Paradoxes of parenthood: Louie CK as guru

How this guy empowered me to embrace the paradoxes of parenthood   Early in my mom years, I heard the well-known bit from Louis CK about the many paradoxes of parenthood. He explained that , even though he loves his kids intensely, being a parent...

Read More

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Before, During and After

A New Approach For Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent-teacher conferences are coming up and they can feel like deja-vu: Same kid, same feedback, different teacher. After hearing negative feedback from a fellow adult, there is the understandable temptation to give the “This is serious,” lecture. But...

Read More

Welcome To My Online Home

Welcome to my new online home!  Yes I keep a low profile, and yes I’ve been lurking about some. But I’ve also been up to a few things. I’m married and the mom of two feisty girls. Oh, and we live in New...

Read More

I’m Here!

Hello there, the Internet, it’s Helaina. Yes I keep a low profile, and yes I’ve been lurking about some, but I’ve also been up to a few things. I’m married and the mom of two feisty little girls. Oh, and we live...

Read More