As a parent, I’ve often felt out of my depth when it comes to emotions—both mine and my teenager’s. I’ve snapped during stressful moments, misunderstood their silence, and sometimes had no clue how to navigate their meltdowns. But over time,…
As a parent, I’ve always feared failure—for my kids and for myself. I’d lose sleep over missed homework deadlines, skipped piano practices, and the time my toddler accidentally dyed the dog blue with a marker. But over the years, I’ve…
As a parent, I’ve spent countless hours worrying about my kids’ screen time. Should I enforce strict rules? Let them self-regulate? Or panic and ban devices altogether? After months of trial and error—and a deep dive into research—I’ve learned that…
When my son was first flagged for “disruptive behavior” in kindergarten, I pictured ADHD as the caricature I’d seen on TV: a kid bouncing off walls, ignoring teachers, and chugging down sugary sodas. But the reality? My child wasn’t hyperactive—he’d…
I’ll never forget the day I tried to pull the “Because I said so” card on my 14-year-old. Her response? A deadpan, “That’s not a reason.” Cue the internal crisis. As a parent raised by strict, no-nonsense Boomers, I’d defaulted…
Raising a child who listens the first time feels like the holy grail of parenting. You’ve probably been there: asking your kid to put on shoes, turn off the TV, or clean up toys, only to repeat yourself five times…
Let me start by saying this: I’m not a tech wizard. I still accidentally click on ads that say “You’ve won a free iPad!” and I’ve definitely Googled “What is a phishing scam?” more than once. But when my 10-year-old…
Let me start by admitting something: I’m not a natural leader. I avoid public speaking, I hate confrontation, and I’ve never been the “take charge” type. So when my daughter came home from school saying, “I want to be class…
Let me start with a confession: I used to praise my kids constantly. Every scribble was a “masterpiece,” every goal scored was “genius-level skill,” and every mundane task—like picking up toys—earned a “You’re the best kid ever!” I thought I…
Let me start with a confession: I let my 13-year-old daughter keep her phone in her bedroom. At first, it seemed harmless—a way to stay connected if she needed me. But soon, I noticed the late-night “just one more scroll”…