The Challenges of Motherhood

The Essential Skill for the Challenges of Motherhood—Don’t Listen

You can master the challenges of motherhood. The influences on mothers today are mostly ingrained from their own childhood memories and abetted by comments on social media, from friends, and other women in your child’s playgroups. The result for many women is a constant striving to be the perfect mother. This likely means bending to… Read More

How Children Affect Your Happiness

PHOTO Credit: Marcin Jozwiak/Unsplash Even though more and more families stop after having one child, many debate having second, third or more children. The decision tends to be based on practical factors–finances, career goals, living space—with a modicum of focus on how children affect your happiness. Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale University, explained… Read More

To Have or Not to Have Another Child

One woman’s revealing story of her emotional rollercoaster ride and struggle deciding whether to have or not to have another child. It provides insights or perhaps affirmation for the decision you may already have made.… Read More

Lighten Up Parents! Humor is a Powerful Parenting Tool

Humor is an effective parenting tool for disciplining and bond-building. You don’t need to be naturally funny to add humor to your parenting toolbox. It is a surprisingly effective — and underused — parenting technique to relieve tension and strengthen the bond with your children. For parents, humor can be a gateway to a deeper… Read More

How Parents Can Stop Mean Girl Behavior

How Parents Can Stop Mean Girl Behavior

It’s no secret that “mean girls” are younger than ever before. But how young? Their attacks and patterns are similar to what many of us with young daughters experienced in high school. It often starts small: Choosing to exclude another girl at recess or from a birthday party. A mean post online. Then, it escalates:… 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

How Technology Causes ‘Brain Drain’ & Weakens Family Connections

It’s no secret that the advent of smartphones and other technology puts strains on family life. Technology also causes a brain drain. According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, children now spend more than seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen. (“Screen” includes cellphones,… Read More