Barbara Greenberg

The end of May is here and I have to tell you that this makes me one happy camper. May is typically a month full of mixed emotions for me. First, there is Mother's Day and then there is the celebration of my birthday, which are two very deeply intertwined...

When I was growing up, my mom's best gift to me was to take me to the library. I am not kidding here. Libraries were like giant candy stores to me. I mean, you could check out books for free? I was astonished and delighted. Sometimes she would take me...

There are many good and exciting aspects to growing older, but I have to say that learning how to make others feel good has been one of my most important learning experiences. Love a friend, a child, a partner? Then learn how to make them feel appreciated, bathed in good...

Truth be told, most moms feel inadequate. It may not seem that way at first blush, but let me tell you that it is the truth. I know this as both a psychologist and as a friend who has listened to countless stories about what is really going on with...

I've been keeping track of this trend lately -- very close track. Watch a group of teens hanging out together and more times than not they will be:

A. On their best behavior
B. Dressed alike
C. Flirting
D. On their cell phones

Yep, the answer...

The latest treatise on parenting properly has shaken mothers to the core this week, as TIME Magazine featured a story about attachment parenting entitled "Are You Mother Enough?" For the love of God, who is mother enough, who is child enough, dad enough, friend enough...? But when a theory is...

Dear Dr. G.,

I saw you on TV talking about proms, so my mom thought that I should reach out to you about my problem with the prom and my mother. Months ago, I accepted a prom date from a boy who is also a senior and lives in my...

As high school seniors across the country approach the end of their school year, graduation and proms, they face yet another trend. And this trend is sweeping the country like it is nobody's business. Marriage proposals have always been expected to be beautiful, creative and memorable events. Now, prom proposals...

I am an adult woman. Yes, at the risk of saying something socially inappropriate, I will say it anyway. On some days, I do feel attractive. And guess what -- despite having gone through childbirth, I am still pleased with my body. I am delighted when I get complimented on...

Dear Dr. G.,

My teen and husband are really confusing the heck out of me. First, let's talk about my teenager who is a young 14. She is rude and irritable with me much of the time. This is a recent development this year. I understand that this may be...

I have spoken to many women about the vows they make when they become mothers. As we approach Mother's Day once again, I think it is time to have a frank discussion about these vows and how they have worked for us and our children.

It goes something like this:

Shame, one of the most difficult of all emotions, can slowly eat away at your heart, soul, stomach lining and relationships. And the relationships that it eats away at most are probably the ones that are most important to you -- the ones with your kids and your partners.

Now,...

After weeks of waiting for the documentary Bully to come to my neck of the woods, it finally arrived. I got to the earliest showing of the movie to see just what Lee Hirsch had captured in his documentary about the lives of middle schoolers on the school bus, during...

Dear Dr. G.,

I am totally embarrassed about what I am experiencing. I feel like a jealous teenager. I got remarried four months ago. I have an 11-year-old son from my first marriage and my new husband has a 15-year-old daughter from his former marriage.

Well, here is what's happening....

Dear Dr. G.,

I know that parents usually write to you about their problems with us, their teenagers. Well, I'd like to turn this problem upside down from the perspective of a 17-year-old teen daughter --that's me. Mother's Day is approaching and this is not an easy time for me....

Almost every article about teens reminds us that they may drink too much, drive recklessly, talk back, not talk enough, etc. You get the drift. Well here in a totally different spirit, I would like to give credit where credit is due and that is to our teens, who have...

Yes, Americans, Israel has just followed in the footsteps of India and Italy by banning underweight models. No more being in ads or strutting the catwalks in these countries if you are underweight and thus a negative role model for our teens.

The Israeli parliament has recently passed...

This generation of teens is very familiar with the term 'OVERSHARE." In fact, the Urban Dictionary describes it as a tendency to share too many details of once private situations with peers and others. And, I can relate. As a teen, yes I did share private and scintillating details with...

Susy F. fascinated me in second grade. I thought that there was something magical about her but I couldn't quite pin it down. Remember, I was a little kid back then and I was observing her through my second grade eyes. And observe I did. I spent much of each...

Dear Dr. G.,

I have recently moved my family from the city to the suburbs. I guess it's more like the country to me. We have three kids and the oldest -- the current problem -- is 14 years old. She was recently invited to a party at a friend's...