Two weeks ago we explored the importance of mentors for developing youth. In fact, mentoring programs are popping up around the country, as people start to recognize the impact these relationships can have. But what are …
Peers
Mentors: Why They Matter
In my spare time, I am the proud mentor of a charismatic, funny, kind, and smart 14-year old girl. Whenever we get together, we talk about… nothing, but lots of it! We have seen …
Finding My Religion
Auggie comes home one day from high school, walks through the door and declares to his Jewish mom that he has decided he wants to be Buddhist. A friend that he knows has been exploring …
Forgiveness Firsts: How to Prepare for Forgiveness
This week’s Parenthetical post is one of two in a Parenthetical forgiveness series summarizing many of the concepts presented by Dr. Bob Enright of the International Forgiveness Institute during his Forgiveness Seminar at the University …
If I can’t vote, does my voice count? How teens can make a political difference.
American politics remain a hot topic of conversation in many homes across the nation. Although teenagers may not be of voting age just yet, they are showing increased motivation to join the debate. This week’s …
Deodorizing: Strategies for Dealing with Youth Body Odor
Body odor can be intense during the teen years. But what do you do if your child seems blissfully unaware or uninterested in dealing with the fact that he or she smells? Or, even worse, …
Tackling the Tough Topic of Pornography with Your Teen
When I was growing up it was common for boys like myself to seek out and share sexually-themed pictures. It usually took some effort to find them. The easiest sources were National Geographic and the …
Talking about terrorism and mass violence with teens: What can parents do?
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”― Fred Rogers I …
The Diverging Paths of Parents and Teens
We usually think of the teen years as a period of major changes in our children. Often overlooked is the fact that parents are also experiencing significant changes of their own. One of the things …
Protecting Your Teen from the National Alcohol Crisis
Alcohol abuse and excessive consumption has been declared a national health problem by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The issue has been identified because excessive alcohol consumption costs 88,000 lives in the U.S each …