So win or lose, regardless of what her older sisters have done in the past, today is Youngest's day... hers, all hers.
It's tempting to think that our children will be best friends, naturally and without conflict. But while we can encourage our kids to treat each other with kindness and respect, we can't force them to get along.
From now on, I am not going to tell any child that someone tormenting her really just "likes" her and doesn't know how to show it.
Children will nag; it's in their nature. We parents feel bad not giving in, and that's in our nature. It's all OK. You're not alone in wanting to be good parents in your eyes and your children's at the same time.
Halloween can be fun and relatively healthy. The key is using moderation and making the best choice of the things available.
During the teen years, it is vital that parents understand their teen's behavior rather than merely react to it.
"I can't afford it" means nothing to a 4-year-old. My son Rhett's solution was swift and simple: "Oh Mommy, don't use real money. Use that magic piece of plastic."
My wife and I underwent a series of intense analytical sessions when deciding what to name our children. We drew up lists, consulted census reports and cross-checked our top contenders to make sure they didn't correlate to any sitcom characters and/or reality stars.
Every child has the necessary intelligence to live his or her life fully.
We're always hearing about children and teenagers who share too much: with their friends; with their parents; online, with the world. But what happens when it's Mom and Dad dabbling in TMI? How do we know how much--and what sort of--information our kids can handle?
You read your kids bedtime stories most nights. But do you ever give them bedtime math problems instead?
Recently, Carrie Goldman, parenting expert and author of "Bullied", joined me on Mondays with Marlo and I just had to ask her if she had any advice on...
When your parenting style differs from that of your partner, it can be frustrating at best and destructive at worst, creating dissonance and distance between partners and confusion among the kids. But different parenting styles needn't spell disaster. Divergent styles can help prepare kids for a world of negotiating various types of people.
Dear Susan, My neighbor and I have preschool-aged sons who have a lot of fun together. But lately, the other boy has been pushing my child when he ...
Carrie Goldman, parenting expert and author of "Bullied", recently joined me on Mondays with Marlo and she told me how important it is that everyone, ...
We have become approval junkies always looking for the next fix, the next hit of validation and approval. The problem is that our goals (Look Good + Perform Well + Get Approval) are all extrinsically based.
Once again, Becca and I made the walk of shame to the office for another late slip. The second one in three days. Becca smiled at me and said, "It's okay, Mommy. It's a new school. You hats to get used to it, just like me."
Parenting is the most important and difficult job for which we will ever apply. The best advice I can give is to lay the strongest foundation for your child's healthy development and then get out of the way and trust that your child will "make you proud!"
Being away from parents is a good thing. It gives kids room to grow and explore in new ways. We will still be the most influential people in our children's lives, but they don't have to be -- and shouldn't be -- our mirror image.
With a present mind and an open heart, not only can you be a compass of strength and calm to your family, but your experience of parenting and life itself will be richer and more fulfilling.
Dear Susan, My fourth grader is experiencing anxiety now that school has started. Not necessarily about school, but about everything else: What if ...
Open your own heart and understand that children benefit when they participate in a family event that includes both celebration and pain. Together you can face the sorrow, share the tears, and always, always, hold the love in your hearts.
The key question to ask yourself as a parent is "How can I empower my tween?"
Dear Susan, I love my kids, but I yell at them much more often than I'd like. What can I do to keep my cool when they act badly? Signed, Always...
As parents, our responsibility is to keep kids unharmed. That doesn't mean shielding them from all possibility of defeat. It means letting them fail safely. Here's how to help your child take risks -- and make mistakes, inevitably -- safely.
