I write this from the road, literally. I am in the midst of a good old-fashioned family road trip. Now, the nature of my work dictates that I spend a lot of time thinking about the ways in which families work, those things that create a cohesive unit. And I'm suddenly thinking that we may, [...]
In my clinical practice, I see frequent referrals in which parents are deeply concerned with their teen's overuse of electronics. They cite myriad fears and concerns, including stress, lack of attention to schoolwork, too little face-to-face contact with others, a decrease in social skills, and brain damage. Their concerns are not unfounded. In fact, I [...]
I've come across the issue of how teens handle, or mis-handle, money many, many times. This is a truly tricky topic. By and large, parents I work with want their teens to be able to date, provided they are mature enough for that type of relationship. In the same breath, parents also want their children [...]
Here are a few thoughts on children and gender roles: I encourage parents to follow and support their childrens' interests, independent of expected gender roles. There is a greater likelihood, in my experience, that a child will thrive in an area that interests him or her, than if they are pushed into roles solely because [...]
My wife and I met more than twenty years ago in an improv class at Chicago's famed Second City. So it's fun when we head down there to take in the latest show, which we did a couple weeks ago. Three guys took the stage, bare as usual save for three small chairs. And these [...]
I was asked yesterday to write a bit about self-esteem and confidence, how to foster these in teens. I found myself, time and again, returning to the word "competence". I realized that I use this word all the time. My online reference tool informs me that competence refers, quite simply, to the ability to do [...]