Signe Whitson

Ever struggle with the sense that your kids are growing up too quickly and far too much of their childhood is taken up by the drudgery of adulthood? In my life -- and I'm sure in yours -- there are a whole lotta obligations that have to be taken care...

Mothers are known for giving advice -- both the asked for and the unsolicited kind. This year, in honor of Mother's Day, I celebrate all of the wisdom that my own mom passed on to me through her words and, more importantly, in her actions over the years:

I remember with clarity the day my daughter "discovered" the internet. She was just three years old and playing hostess to the son of one of my college friends visiting from out of town. As the two toddlers were breezing through the kitchen, my friend's son, Jack, stopped short and...

In both my scheduled workshops and my casual conversations on the topic of bullying, professionals and parents often ask me, "Is bullying really worse today than it was when we were kids?"

My answer to that question is an emphatic, "Yes."

The 24/7 availability of cell phones, instant...

Amber had been giving her mother the silent treatment all week. She was angry about not being allowed to sleep over at a friend's house. Late Thursday night, she left a note on her mother's pillow, asking her mom to wash her uniform before Friday's soccer game. When Amber returned...

Your child is being bullied at school. He or she has mustered the courage to tell you about it -- no small feat, considering how humiliating it can be for kids to tell their parents about maltreatment by their peers -- and together, you have tried everything you...

Do your kids love to hate each other? Do they do their best bickering before 9 am? Indeed, for some siblings, arguing comes as naturally as breathing. The upside of all of this anger in children is that as brothers and sisters work through disagreements, they master all...

When I co-wrote The Angry Smile, I did not intend it to be a How-To book. In fact, I know lots of ways to be assertive, direct, and emotionally honest with others. But let's face it: Sometimes a situation calls for a little passive-aggressive behavior...

My...

In our kids' early school years, we spend hours arranging playdates and planning parties. We become the architects (some call it "cruise directors") of their positive social development. With nothing but the best of intentions, we strive to help our little ones develop the skills to make and maintain friendships....

The morning of School Picture Day, my nine-year old neighbor shocked her mother by picking out her own outfit (a mutual favorite), doing her own hair (bangs pulled back away from the eyes) and even selecting shoes that matched (a bonus, even though the school portrait wouldn't account for this...

You get the letter from school in the mail. A teacher has identified your child as potentially "gifted" and wants to send him or her for further testing and evaluation. Flash forward: the tests are completed, your child is a whiz, and enrichment classes will become a part of his...

Turns out that while sticks and stones can break your bones, words, too, can really hurt you. In honor of proving that out-of-date childhood adage incorrect, the week of Jan. 23-27 has been set aside as No Name-Calling Week in schools across the country. Check out these great...

I knew this day would come. I was, of course, hoping it never would -- hoping that my daughter would never be mean to someone else's daughter -- but as they say, I wrote the book on girl bullying in elementary school, so I knew that there was...

Recently, I met with my four year-old's pre-school teacher for a scheduled school conference. After the niceties and pleasantries were exchanged, the teacher slid a report-card-like rating sheet across the desk. My eyes quickly scanned the single-columned list of developmental milestone markers and landed squarely on the lone "minus" tally....

Does passive behavior ever get in the way of your being a good parent?

A few years back, when I was a less experienced mother and a more passive friend, my family and I were invited to a Super Bowl party at the home of one of my...

The world of little girls begins as such a lovely place. Heart and rainbow doodles adorn notebook covers, best friendships are formed within seconds, and bold, exuberant voices carry squeals of carefree laughter and brazen delight. Happiness is worn on a sleeve and anger is voiced with authentic candor.

Do you ever feel like parenthood has got you engaging in the same conversations over and over again? Too often at our house, we have a recurring exchange that goes something like this:

Children: Can we get a dog? We really want a pug.

Parents: We can get a dog...

Do you ever feel like you are riding on an emotional roller coaster with your child? Is your little one friendly and sweet one day, then sulky and withdrawn the next? Does your teenager consistently procrastinate, postpone, stall and shut down any emotionally-charged conversation? Do you, as a parent, ever...

On page 101 of the Parenting Thesaurus (which doesn't actually exist, but should!), you'd find a listing for the phrase, "It's not fair" with several synonyms that could help you properly interpret the thoughts and feelings underlying your child's generic complaint. Sometimes, a demand for fairness has everything to do...

As parents and Education professionals continue to address the problem of bullying among young people, experts advise that fostering compassion in young people is among the best ways to prevent verbal, physical, and emotional aggression from taking root. Here are seven ways to help develop compassion as a...