Do you ever feel like you don’t have the energy to deal with your teenager?

Lack of energy or being tired is a common issue for today’s parents. There are two aspects to your physical energy. First, there is the impact of your mental state. Stress and negative emotions consume...

One of the most common statements I hear from parents is “I wish I could get my teenager to talk to me.” When I inquire about how the conversations typically go, I hear about the dreaded one-word answer.

Mom: How was school today?

Teenager: Fine.

Mom: How did you do on the math...

Setting expectations is an alternative to setting limits. This distinction grows out of the difference between an empowerment-based mindset and a control-based mindset. In order to gain some awareness of your default mindset, try this exercise.

Over the next 24 hours, keep track of how...

One of the biggest sources of conflict between teenagers and their parents is the perceived readiness gap. Teens have a tendency to overestimate their ability to manage their life, while parents have a tendency to underestimate teens’ management abilities. Consequently, teens are constantly...

In our 28 day parenting boot camp, we talk about choosing empowerment over control as the basis for parenting our teenagers. In the book Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers , Michael Riera presents an interesting perspective on this dynamic in the parent-teenager relationship. Riera...

We were at the baseball park the other day watching our 7 -year-old grandson’s team play the second game of a doubleheader when I noticed an older man playing tag with a young child. The little boy was running in circles around a trash can and a group of parents. The older man, who I am...

One of the most effective ays to build connection and empower your teenager is to hand write a note—although many people fail to see the importance of this in our digital age. This can be done as a way to heal your relationship after an argument or as a way to communicate how much you love...

I received this question from a parent.   

My 13 year old seems to have forgotten any manners. No thank you when someone drops her off, or please at a restaurant or anything.   Any ideas?

Having manners, being kind and respectful are fundamental elements of a loving...

It may seem like the difference between knowledge and wisdom is relatively small, but I would assert that when it comes to the impact love can have within your family bridging this gap is where miracles happen. Think of it this way: When you learn about a topic you are gathering information. You...