Depression in adolescent girl “caretakers”
One of the major causes of depression in adolescent girls is their failure to take care of themselves. There are many reasons for this occurring, and the following are stories of real girls who have …
Worst parents ever! The 7 habits of highly unsuccessful parents
One thing I find that all parents have in common is the fear that they are THE worst parents on the block. They worry they are becoming the worst version of their own parents. Perhaps …
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Depression? Suicidal thoughts? Best tool for girls is to savor the moment
One of the best tools I have found to counter depression and anxiety in girls is for them to “savor each moment”. Teens today are scurrying around busy and distracted, and often don’t spend time …
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Sitting alone at lunch: the saddest girls I know
The saddest girls I know are worried every morning before they go to school. Will anybody greet me at my locker? Will anyone pick me for the project? Most importantly, will I have anyone to …
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How my dog Buddy saved a young girl
Okay, so Buddy didn’t REALLY save anyone. But he has proven to be a girl’s best friend; here’s how. A seven year old girl I’ll call Rachel came begrudgingly into my office for a visit, …
The lesson of the butterfly: Let kids struggle and develop resilience!
There is great value in allowing children to struggle, but it requires mom and dad parenting with the long term in mind. It’s often quicker and easier in the moment to do things for kids, …
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Simon Sinek’s millennial paradox: He’s making matters worse!
Simon Sinek’s solution to the problem’s facing millennials in the workplace (Sinek video)is a repeat of what got them there in the first place. While I concur with Sinek about the challenges employers face in dealing …
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Stressed girls? Down time and play bring girls back down to earth
I spent last weekend with a group of high school girls and 10 of our staff, and was reminded again of the power of down time. Girls and their families are busy and stressed these …
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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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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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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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Stop trying to keep up with the Jones’ children!
I hear two main fears coming from parents today: the first is that their children are going to get behind, and the second is anxiety about how to best prepare kids for such an uncertain …
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Can cooperative learning bring out the best in your children?
Which do you think is more effective: cooperation or competition? Despite our culture’s leanings towards competition, hundreds of studies over the past century have shown that collaboration and cooperative learning bring out the best in individuals …
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3 ways to enhance children’s social emotional learning
Social emotional learning is critical for children’s development, and yet receives insufficient attention in our schools and homes. This knowledge includes the following key life skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. SEL …
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Free college: A good or a bad idea?
Have we really given this notion of ‘free scholarships for college students ’ enough critical consideration? Politicians from both parties have jumped on this bandwagon, trying to one-up each other in their pursuit of votes. …
Feeling hurried and over overscheduled? It’s time to begin with the end in mind
Perhaps the biggest mistake parents make is not taking the time up front to follow the prescription of Stephen Covey: begin with the end in mind. Families jump headlong into decisions about sports and other …
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Best remedy for stressed out teenagers
Stress levels in teenagers are higher than that for adults, and adolescents continue to underestimate the potential impact that stress has on their physical and mental health. After spending three weeks at my summer camp for …
Kids lead the way in solving our racial divide
Two girls, one black and one white, demonstrated perfectly what our country needs to solve it’s racial conflicts. Politicians and other leaders have failed to bring us all together. Yet two middle school girls succeeded with a …
Are you a prisoner of your phone?
After spending 2 of the last 3 weeks at our camp, I’m reminded of the benefits of unplugging from cell phones and social media, and especially for adolescent girls. Many girls truly are prisoners of …