Are Hook-Ups Meaningless?
Many teenage girls today hook up with guys and have sex. These encounters are often described as being casual, random, emotionally detached, and with no strings attached. But I have wondered if that’s really true. …
Get outside in nature and play!!!
Turn off the TV and get out in nature and play! I know the temperature is starting to rise into the 90’s, and I can just feel people scrambling back inside to the comforts of …
Be kind to every child as they struggle with challenging lives
Be kind to every child you meet, because you don’t know what challenging adversities they are living through. It’s amazing to me what complicated lives so many children live, and how strong, resilient, and courageous …
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Best antidote for the holiday blues? An attitude of gratitude
There is no better antidote for the holiday blues than gratitude. Thankfulness raises your spirits because you cannot be in a state of anxiety, worry, or anger at the same time you are experiencing gratitude; …
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Put your smartphone away! Lonely kids crave real conversation
Despite our continual digital connections to everyone and everything, people today feel more lonely and less supported than 30 years ago. I was reminded of this fact recently as I observed a family at a restaurant. …
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Cannabis conundrum: Are we ruining a generation of teenagers?
The ‘60’s and 70’s were the hay day for drug and alcohol usage by teenagers. Today, cigarette and alcohol use by teenagers are at their lowest levels since 1975. Marijuana is the most common illicit …
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I hate my body! When and why body image dissatisfaction begins
Body image concerns for girls don’t typically start appearing in high school; it’s often grade school when the angst begins. It can begin with an offhand comment from a friend or parent, and almost always …
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Flabby girls: boost these 5 critical social-emotional muscles
Yes, a lot of you girls are too flabby, but I’m not talking about your bodies. I’m referring to vital social, emotional, and psychological muscles that girls need to build up in order to live …
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Best parenting tips for 2017: Just don’t suck at it!
Kids are under a lot of pressure to be perfect these days, and the same unrealistic standard applies for parents. Advice comes in many forms and from all sides: grandparents, teachers, friends, coaches, blogs, articles, …
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Girls who march to a different drum change the world
Mariah, 16, should have grown up in the ‘60’s. Have you ever met a kid who just reeked of that by-gone era: free spirits who want to try everything no matter how restrictive their parents …
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Unforgettable mentors inspire greatness in us all
The value of mentors is immeasurable. Sometimes it’s someone offering us the right words at the right time; other times it’s watching how they respond to a challenging situation. For some, it’s a one-time chance encounter with …
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Stop treating struggling teen girls like they are broken
It is often reported that anxiety and depression in children, and girls in particular, is on the rise. Girls today feel more stressed out and overwhelmed than ever before. Is this an exaggeration, and if not, …
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Don’t allow overzealous youth coaches to rule your life
Parents are giving youth sports coaches way too much power over the lives of their children and families. Overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout among child and adolescent athletes are a growing problem. Single-sport, year-round training …
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Mobile devices are killing relationships and deep conversations
Is technology ruining your relationships? Is your constant need to check texts and social media hurting the depth and empathy in conversations with friends and spouses? Based on recent research, whether you are talking about …
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Best remedy for painful relationships: believe in yourself!
The most common reason girls don’t take care of themselves in both friendship and dating relationships is the negative beliefs about themselves they have acquired from past painful experiences. What you believe about you will drive …
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Shameful politics: Give kids a bridge over troubled water
The tone of the recent political campaign was divisive, hateful, exclusive, and lacking respect. Most of the energy was about one-upmanship and outshouting your opponent, with scant attention paid to the needs of our children. …
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Vicious politicians model shameful leadership for children
Throughout this election season, our children have frequently witnessed adults behaving badly. They have seen innumerable occurrences of disrespect and incivility, and scant few adults modeling true strength and leadership styles. Let me offer two stories …
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Girls feel helpless to stop sexual harassment at school
Donald Trump’s “locker room” comments reported on the news the past few weeks reminds me of another issue that affects teenage girls every day: being groped in the hallways of school. Early adolescents who go …
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Low self-esteem in girls (Common Causes & How To Help Them Thrive)
Interestingly, I think there is one thing that has killed more dreams than death itself; that is a person who is concerned with what other’s think. Unknown Girls are conditioned to look outside of themselves …
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Do you really want your child to become President of the US?
Becoming President of the United States used to be one of parent’s highest aspirations for their children, but I’m not so sure that remains true today. The hostility and disrespect amongst politicians and voters these days …
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