As spring kicks into high gear, many parents struggle with the anxiety they associate with prom and graduation season. Parents of chronically misbehaved kids might wonder, “Does my child even deserve this privilege?” Other parents are nervous that their child might do drugs, drink, have sex—or all of the above. The high cost of prom... Read more »
The holidays can be a tough time for everyone. And when you're parenting an oppositional, defiant, or challenging child, the holidays can be more than tough—they can be downright awful. My son is in his thirties now, but all I have to do is close my eyes, and I can remember so clearly the arguing... Read more »
If you have a child or teen who misbehaves, the holidays can be a source of infinite stress and anxiety. Your expectations of the holidays can be seriously at odds with your child's expectations. You expect to have a nice, shared time with your immediate family. And you may attend some larger family gatherings. Meanwhile,... Read more »
Do you have a picture of what the holidays should look like? Most of us do whether we admit it or not. And when the reality doesn't match the expectation you have in your head, it feels awful. Parents of acting-out kids know this firsthand because the reality so often doesn't match their expectations. And... Read more »
Summer vacation has arrived, and so have calls to the support line from parents who are pulling their hair out about their kids now that school is out. Why is the end of school an invitation for kids to cause trouble—with siblings, friends and parents? Kids often see the summer months as a time to do... Read more »
Summer vacation. This favorite time of the year for kids is often the most stressful time of the year for parents. Whether your child is off for three full months or attends school year-round, if he is oppositional or defiant, you’ve probably learned to dread school breaks. Here are the top concerns we hear from... Read more »
Parenting is one job that never gets a holiday break. At Empowering Parents, we hear about struggles with sibling bickering, backtalk, temper tantrums, and other child behavior problems every day. The fact that you, as a parent, visit our website and are willing to reach out and share your challenges and struggles with us speaks... Read more »
For parents dealing with child behavior problems, chances are the holidays make you feel even more stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed. And for good reason. The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and family togetherness. And sometimes it is. But very often it's not. The parents that I work with every day are... Read more »
Why are our kids often at each other’s throats in the summer? The biggest cause of fighting during the long summer break is the fact that you’re spending a whole lot of time together. If external stresses increase—if there’s trouble at work, a bad break–up for one of your teens, or you’re caring for a... Read more »
As parents, it's easy to focus on the kids and lose sight of ourselves and our needs as adults at this time of year. So, when we look at how to manage family and behavior problems during the holidays, we need to look at the effect the season has on us and on our kids. Perhaps... Read more »
