The best and healthiest way to motivate preteens to practice good hygiene is with positive reinforcement. Giving them negative reinforcement — telling them they look ugly, dirty, greasy, etc., will damage their self-esteem.
* Explain to your child that they will FEEL a lot better if they take a shower nightly. If you focus […]

My best friend named her daughter after me and now, 17 years later, we both think this may have been a bad idea.
They had a huge fight last night because her daughter refused to clean up the kitchen. It got ugly, with the girl telling her mother, “I’ll take you out, bitch.” We’re both reasonably […]

Mean girls are bullies. The difference between girl bullies and boy bullies is that in general, boys have a more physical outlet and aggression. Girls have a more psychological aggression. Mean girls can drive others to great pain and even suicide, if they are vulnerable.
Mean girls learn to be mean — it is not […]

The Venue Difference
The Starbucks or other coffee shop drinks have a different impact — both positive and negative — for teens than hardcore energy drinks like Red Bull and it’s like. The reason is that Starbucks doesn’t just provide an alternative drink. It provides a venue to go with this drink.
The thing to remember […]

Teenage boys — and often boys as young as seven years old (yup, seven) — begin to see themselves as young men, as opposed to boys. While they are still very much boys, they have come a long way from diapers, sippy cups and velcro sneakers. They are more like their dads, and they usually […]

Some moms need a little direction on how to teach/coach/guide their teenage sons in regard to grooming issues and why they are so important. If you’re one of those mom’s, this one’s for you…
MANDATORY MATTERS
When it comes to good grooming habits and personal
hygiene, there are several things that are non-negotiable, for
instance, a daily shower—which […]

Teenagers have been hanging out in coffee shops for years but now, it seems, pre-teens are frequenting Starbucks, Bridgehead and Second Cup. What’s causing this trend and what can be made of it?
The thing to remember is that teens and pre-teens are in the process of separating from their parents and families, and individuating into […]

There are lots of reasons that people like to play games and step out of their reality. Some people step out of reality in a normal way. Some step out in a clinical way that is not normal. Some step out temporarily and have no problem getting back into real life, others, like the main […]

OK, you’re a stepmom to a 17-year-old girl who has left a very ugly message (screaming and cursing) on your voicemail… this, after she triggered an argument between your husband and your husband’s ex wife. Your initial reaction is to ban her from your home until she apologizes, but now you’re not sure. What […]