Helping Your Teen Resist Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a reality of growing up. Though it's out of our control as parents, there are things we can do to support our teen and help her successfully navigate the peer-pressure pitfalls. First, talk with your teen and help them set healthy boundaries on using drugs, drinking, having sex or

Read More »

5 Strategies for Effectively Communicating with Your Teen

It’s no secret that the relationship between a mother and her daughter is typically a complicated one. Moms often get a clue they’re in for a wild ride the first time they see their little girl emotionally stomped on by another child or they catch a glimpse of their own insecurities in the eyes of t

Read More »

Your Child's Temperament: Finding the Right Parenting Style to Match

Anyone who’s ever parented more than one child understands a fundamental truth: No two kids are alike. Here’s what many parents don’t understand: We need to tailor our parenting styles according to each child’s individual needs and temperaments. That’s what a study published last August in the Jou

Read More »

Diagnosing and Treating Kids with Autism: Why Early Intervention Is Crucial

Allison Perea knew nothing about autism until she sent her son to preschool. Although she was aware that Tyler was quirky, Perea was blindsided when she was told he was autistic. “When someone tells you your child isn’t right, you’re shocked and devastated and don’t know what to think,” says the Ye

Read More »

Do Babies Really Show a Sense of Fairness?

Fifteen-month-old Elijah Jones knows when things aren’t fair. If everybody else gets a regular chair, he doesn’t want a booster. If everybody else gets peas, he wants some, too. If he has a lollipop, he likes to trade licks, and often shoves a half-finished, spit-covered lollipop into his surprised

Read More »

Stepparenting and Blended Families: How to Make it Work

When Rachelle Katz, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of The Happy Stepmother, created her website, stepsforstepmothers.com, she was floored by the response. Thousands registered, eagerly sharing their experiences. These moms needed support — and wanted to be heard. “It seems to have opened a crack

Read More »

Bunking Up: The Benefits of Having Siblings Share a Bedroom

Corey and Katey Hage’s second son, Josiah, was destined for a shared bedroom from day one. The Hages wanted him to bunk up with his older brother, Ezra, to conserve space in the family’s modestly sized Magnolia home and to help the boys build a lasting bond. But reaching the goal wasn’t easy. Sleep

Read More »

Ask the Parent Coach: The Challenges of Step-Parenting

  Q: I am a relatively new stepmother to two teenagers. While I was not naive enough to think we'd be The Brady Bunch, things are not going very well despite hopeful intentions. Their mother left, but it feels like somehow I am cast as the bad guy! I don’t want to bring my husband/their father in

Read More »