New babies don’t cry to be picked up, but they often cry because they’ve been put down. The living warmth, support, and gentle movement of your body, with the sound of your heart and breathing, are much closer to what your baby is used to than the solitude of the crib. For a while, your […]
If your teenager is shy, he has lots of company. Studies show that some 40% of Americans consider themselves shy. Why is your teenager shy? Some people have an inherited tendency to be shy. Others have low self esteem and feel unworthy unless they can be perfect. Some are plagued with anxious thoughts about whether
How can a parent tell the difference between normal rebellion and the signal that a teen is troubled? Ask yourself these two questions: • First, how frequent and intense is the rebellion? Normal rebellion is sporadic. There are moments of sweetness, calm and cooperation between outbursts. If on the other hand, rebellion is constant and
There was a time when your child thought you were perfect. Now your teen finds much to criticize and little to praise. Your taste in clothes and music is scorned. You may not be a paragon, but an embarrassment. What’s going on? Your child is working tempestuously toward one of the major goals of adolescence
It happens to most parents from time to time. Your teenager may be a good kid. He or she may not have serious problems, but there are times when your patience wears thin and when your coping skills waiver. What can you do when you teen is just driving you crazy? ⢠First, if a
Many unhappily married couples wait until their children are in their teens to divorce. They figure divorce will affect them less when they are starting to build lives of their own anyway. But divorce can bring some unique pressures and losses for teens. Knowing this can help you to be a better single parent. Teens
More than 5,000 teenagers kill themselves each year. Suicide is one of the major causes of death among 15-24 year olds. What are some of the warning signs? Depression is a major factor in suicide. Watch for symptoms like eating and sleep disorders, mood changes, withdrawal – especially withdrawal from friends – irritation, sudden changes
Teens need to know about the very real dangers of drug use and alcohol abuse, but they eventually turn off when they hear too many grim statistics. They need to hear positive reasons not to use substances. Here are some techniques you can use: • First, the best way to solve a problem is by
If you were to ask a group of teens, ” What’s the greatest problem you and your friends face?”, chances are the answer would be “Stress”. Today’s teens are much more likely to have earlier stressful experiences with loss. For example, parents are more likely to be divorced today. Teens often feel that working parents
Does your teen have headaches, stomachaches and other ailments on school days? Does he express fear of going to school because of problems with peers or a teacher? Does she frequently cry or oversleep on weekday mornings? Does he stubbornly refuse to attend school most of the time, or sneak back home after you’ve left
