Calling All Only Children: Share Your Story!

Are you an only child? We’d like to hear from you! Take our survey and share your perspective and receive free tips from Susan’s latest book. Participate here.

No Crossing Sign, guarding your boundaries

Guarding Your Boundaries: When Adult Children and Parents Live Together

Boundaries separating you from family occur automatically when you’re independent, formed either by the physical distance or the amount of contact you orchestrate.

Parent-Child Bonding Rituals in Under 5 Minutes

Given everyone’s hectic schedules, you may think you are too busy to squeeze in meaningful, day-to-day exchanges with your children. Actually—you are not. In between the fast-paced lives you and your children lead, you can stay connecte…

Are You Too Much of a Yes-Parent?

When something needs to be done, you’re the one to do it. You’re the go-to person in your family and among your friends — the one who buys the gifts, sends the flowers, copes with the emergencies, keeps everyone up-to-date on what everyone else is doing even if you work outside the home. You plan parties, and more often than not they are held at your house. You drive — and drive and drive — your children and everyone else’s. It often feels as if you’re the only reliable person you know. The trouble is: Everyone else thinks that way, too. Especially your children. They know you are a Yes-Parent.

Only Child Stereotypes: Fact vs. Fiction

You have to wonder why, when the U.S. Census reports that the single child family is the fastest growing family unit, people tell you to have another child (or you think you should). Proponents of large or larger families claim your only child will be spoiled, lonely, or selfish or worse.

Only Child Benefits, According to Those Who Lived It

Onlies in their 20s, 40s, 60s and 70s shared their feelings and revealed five distinct advantages to being an only child.

6 Well-Kept Secrets Affecting Family Size

It seems that everyone has a different ideal family size in mind. For the last 20+ years I have been researching and writing about family issues. I realized many are surprising and not well known.

Calling All Only Children!

Are you an only child? We’d like to hear from you! Take our survey and share your perspective on the only-child experience. As a thanks, receive free tips from Susan’s latest book.… Read More

5 Scripts to Use with Your Strong-Willed Child

Some children are naturally independent and opinionated — even used to getting their own way. In short, they can be obstinate or defiant at times. This makes your job as a parent all the more challenging. A typical strong-willed child often misbehaves or refuses to test your love and limits. It could be there are… Read More

5 Quick Parent-Child Bonding Activities

With back-to-school season here once again, the dog days of summer shift dramatically into busy mode. Suddenly, schedules feel packed. In between morning commutes, after-school sports or weekend extracurricular activities, it seems that there’s barely time to update each other on your day. You’re not alone. Life swirls at a hectic pace in most families.… Read More

6 Reasons Why You Have a Pushover Problem

Your phone rings or an incoming text chimes. You’re greeted with the same all-too-familiar message: “Can you help with…” or “Can you do me a favor?” As always, you are the go-to person in your family, friend circle or work group to handle a crisis or solve an issue. And, as usual, you’ll do it… Read More

Will the Only Child Bashing Ever End?

More families worldwide are choosing to have one child. However, unfair attitudes still abound. Even though I, and others, have spent decades shedding light on only child discrimination and stereotypes, we continue to see and hear baseless only child bashing. Recently, I spotted advice offered in a daily newspaper’s parenting Q & A section. It… Read More

5 Ways to Assert Rules with Your Teen

When your child was younger, he or she routinely looked to you for answers or assistance, from learning to tie his shoes to help with homework. That made you feel needed and loved — popular with your own child. Then everything changed: You parent a teen now who is not keen on all your rules.… Read More

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The Firstborn-Only Child Edge

There is no right or wrong family size, but there is strong evidence demonstrating a firstborn and only child edge. In families, the finite resources parents have means that any given sibling will be given less time and attention than if they were an only child. In essence, siblings compete for whatever their parents can provide. … Read More

Are You Too Much of a Yes-Parent?

Take the test. Maybe it’s time to change. … Read More

6 Effective Ways to Compliment—and Motivate—Your Child

What parent doesn’t love to praise his or her children? Yet, parents should be wary of over-the-top, glowing praise. … Read More

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