The sultry glances were brief but often. With fluttering eyelashes and a slightly demure smile, there was no mistaking her intentions—to capture the attention of that handsome guy sitting nearby. A normal display of flirting? Absolutely! A common age for such conquest? Not so much. The flirtatious female in this description was only in fourth…
We all know about the Grinch who “stole Christmas.” But do others accuse you of having those Grinch-like characteristics around the holidays, stealing their joy of the season? If so, the holidays—and activities associated with them—may be getting the best of you. The list is a mile long when it comes to all the reasons…
Who doesn’t love a great gift? It’s always fun to receive presents, but also satisfying to know when we’ve given that perfect “something” to a special loved one. The practice of gift-giving dates back to the Magi (Wise Men) bringing three gifts—Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh—to Baby Jesus. These particular gifts had symbolic meaning for Christ’s life—gold representing…
Death is an important matter of life. Do you ever talk with your children about it? Each year we see news reports about well-known, successful celebrities suddenly ending their lives. We hear about these tragic circumstances with shock and sadness—and so do our kids! We may think these headlines are sad or unfortunate, but then…
Which colors are you drawn to when you are excited about a new project or event? How about when you’re feeling worried or melancholy? Ever wonder why? You may not think about it, but there’s actually a reason behind the mood and behavior that comes from the colors in your environment. And if you are…
Talking with teenagers seems challenging even for the most patient parents. While many moms and dads desire open interaction with their kids, the reality is that this becomes difficult as teens proceed through their middle and high school years. I thought we were communicating! In our generation of cell phones, text messages, and conversations on-screen—communication has never been…
It’s always good to be prepared! We know that heartbreaking situations can happen any day when we least expect them. With the click of a television remote or the closing down of a website, we can visually remove the painful reality of tragedies and go about our day. But there are times when anguish can’t be taken away…
When kids return to the classroom, things at home can get a little stressful! And if parents are gone all day to work, it takes a lot of coordination to ensure everyone in the household is able to make the grade when it comes to balance. Make Straight A’s with Your Back-To-School Scheduling: ADMIT that you…
School is beginning again for a lot of kids this Fall semester. For many, it’s an exciting time to renew friendships and move up a grade level. But for others, it can be difficult due to nervousness about a variety of issues. Is your child filled with anxiety about going back to the classroom? Has she shown intense hesitation…
There’s always a lot of buzz about teens and their use of smartphones and social media. Most of us have heard horror stories about cyberbullying, “sexting,” and other risky online behaviors. For parents, this information can feel overwhelming. How do we compete with the powerful lure of “likes” on social media platforms such as INSTAGRAM®,…