My son rolls up in our driveway and bounces out to hug his mom. My son is home for the Christmas break and my mind is focused on his (but legally mine) dirty SUV. As my son goes inside to get the attention and affection from his mother, I look inside the car and wonder if it is part of a science project exploring the dangers of mold and mildew from old Taco Bell wrappers. In … [Read more...] about How to reconnect with your college student during the holidays

The positive effect that family dinners have on children, especially teenagers, has been highlighted by a study carried out by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA). The study surveyed 1,000 teenagers and found that more than half of them believed that the best time to talk about something important with their parents was at family … [Read more...] about Family Dinners Have Nutritional and Social Benefits

Talking to teens about drinking can sometimes be challenging, but it is worth it when it comes to safety. Hopefully, this press conference will be the impetus to start the conversation. Remember, parents are the number one influencer in their teens’ lives.  Communicate- start the conversation with your teen Before prom or graduation festivities, discuss your … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Parents During Prom/Graduation Season

Figuring out how to talk to your child about sex is difficult. Having a conventional "birds and bees" chat over milk and cookies is a far-fetched dream for most American families. Do you casually bring up sex during mealtime conversation about soccer practice and a math test? Do you sit your child down face-to-face and have a serious health talk? Addressing sexuality issues … [Read more...] about Tonight’s Dinner Includes Pizza and a Sex Talk

Since adolescents are too old to do the things kids do and not old enough to do the things adults do, they do things nobody else will do. —AnonymousA teenager never opens his mouth when speaking except when there is food in it.—David Guttman, MDCarol is fifteen, to put it mildly. —Joan Hess Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own. … [Read more...] about Teen Quotes