Why amazing girls feel lonely
Some of the most mature, deep, socially-emotionally intelligent adolescent girls I know feel lonely and out of the loop with peers, making it hard to find their tribe. It used to shock me, but no …
Best remedy for stressed out teenagers
Time in nature, devoid of electronics and social media, is the best antidote to stress in our adolescents. Stress levels in teenagers are higher than that for adults, and adolescents continue to underestimate the potential impact …
Legally Blonde: A modern version of the heroine’s journey
Like in the old versions of fairy tales, the movie Legally Blonde depicts the heroine’s journey so critical for adolescent girls to embrace. Some of my middle school girl campers encouraged me to watch the …
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Parenting independent, street smart kids during the lazy, hazy days of summertime
Summertime is a great time for children to develop more independence and street smarts. As I was recollecting adventures from my summers past, I realized that the current version is so much different than in …
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Taking a Bite Out of Online Bullying- Part 1
There has been a lot of talk lately about online bullying and associated suicides. One area that gets little or no attention is what kids themselves can do to better take care of themselves in …
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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