Parents: You Can Play Hooky, Too
A couple of weeks ago, I woke up and began preparing myself for a day of parenting in quarantine, otherwise known as Extreme Multitasking: 2020 Edition.
Conducting These 3 “Mom Audits” Made Me a Better Parent
It’s easy to identify when my children misbehave. One child says “I want that toy” and yanks it from her brother’s hands.
How to Get Your Kids to Listen
When I call my kids' names I am met with silence. My voice no longer makes their ears turn on.
I’m Scared My Child Will Turn out Like Her Dad
In my work with parents and children, there is one theme that creates the most anxiety: how likely is it that my child will inherit the abusive personality traits of the father?
The New Research That Convinced Me to Become a Soccer Mom Dropout
Am I a horrible mother? The society-driven guilt part of me says, "yes," but the authentic me says, "heck no!"
Parenting From the Pages of "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook"
Now that I’m a father, I no longer feel ashamed of my anxiety. I feel responsible.
More Parents Are Raising Perfectionists and Maybe it's Time to Chill Out
A recent study has found perfectionism has significantly increased compared to previous generations. Striving for perfection however, comes with a price.
#Meworried – the Challenges of Raising a Son in the #Metoo Era
Practically, parents of boys are in a precarious position, one where the rules of inter-gender engagement seem to be in constant flux.
Yes, It Was a 16th Birthday Party, But "Sweet" Isn't How You'd Describe It
Wild at heart, wild animals, Wild Thang, walk on the wild side … holy moly COW, you ain’t seen “wild” until you host your 16-year-old’s surprise party.
An Open Letter to Our New Neighbors
Most people get welcomed to the neighborhood with a delicious casserole or tray of baked goods, but my kids would eat it before I could even get it to you.
By all accounts, I'm very lucky. My nine-year-old son, Jack, is a great kid.
Does Screaming the F-word in Wegmans Make Me a Bad Parent?
I blame my wife for what happened. She makes going out and getting things done with our children seem easy.
When I hear the term “wild” I am automatically transported to the scene in Maurice Sendak’s book "Where the Wild Things Are" in which Max is sent to his room for behaving, well, wild.
Playing the Chess Game of Shorts in Winter
This morning, he emerged from his bedroom wearing a red bandana, a pair of soccer shorts, and a short-sleeved T-shirt that read THIS KID RULES.
What Debra Winger Taught Me About Motherhood
"Terms of Endearment" stayed with me as I grew up. It was one of the few movies I ever saw that portrayed the mother daughter bond as I knew it.
The Wildly Overblown Children's Birthday Party: Can We Be Done?
You know what’s wild? Kids' birthday parties in the new millennium. Their Pinterest perfection, their thematic orchestration.
Ten Things You Can Do Right Now to Make Next Holiday Season That Much Easier
The holidays can be totally exhausting and overwhelming. Take advantage of the tailwind and make next year a little easier.
Why a Consistent Approach to Your Parenting is Important
Being consistent is time-consuming and requires thought and patience but will make your relationship stronger as your child gets older.
For Parents of Babies Who Think They'll Always be Angels
Here is a list of Toddler Truths that you should come to grips with.
This is a submission in our monthly contest. January’s theme is "Wild." Teen angst: a great phrase that uses onomatopoeia. As much as I like how it sounds, I hate the reality. With all those raging...
Guided by the Force, Some Traditions Are Destiny
What Star Wars has become to so many generations of fans is due to the enduring nature of its story.
A magical cradle, a feud between food groups, and a boy with a pet dinosaur – just a small sampling of the stories my daughter had conjured up while staring dreamily into space. It began when I met...
“Don’t Lick the Cat!” and Other Things I Never Thought I’d Have to Say
That was just the beginning of the downward spiral of strange pieces of advice I would be giving my son over the next two years.
How to Have Constructive Conversations With Kids About Mental Health
Not only do we avoid discussing mental health with our kids, but many are ashamed to share these struggles with other adults.