PARENTING IN REAL LIFE

Nearly every teenager on the planet admits to lying about something—and the ones who don’t admit it are probably lying about that! And while lying is highest around ages 13-15, younger kids lie too. Children learn early on that they can avoid consequences by fibbing and avoiding conversations. But not all lying is malicious. Kids often lie for altruistic purposes, like to save a friend from getting in trouble. As annoying, confusing and even hurtful as being lied to is, it’s

How do you feel about resolutions? At this time of year, we all tend to pick a few things about ourselves to change for next year. Often I say I want to lose weight, eat healthily, exercise more, stop drinking....you get the picture. I feel like I make those annually--and also fail to keep them fairly regularly. Today, I am thinking about new ways to think about resolutions. Maybe it will be how I approach each day. I’d like to come from a place of grace or curiosity, of joy

Girls who have a positive relationship with their fathers achieve more academically, make better relationship choices and have more confidence. Growing up, I had a great relationship with my dad, and I love to see my husband with our daughter. They have a special bond too. They do projects together, act silly, and make terrible puns back and forth. And while we often hear more about the father-son and mother-daughter relationships, recently science has proven the great signi

Many college students come home for Thanksgiving, and while you're all looking forward to it, it can be an adjustment. You are excited about having her home, but you may also be nervous about what to anticipate. It's often the first extended time at home since they left for college in the summer, and the first semester at college may have been their first glimpse of "freedom". So they may be wondering if it is possible to come home and still maintain their newfound independ