Articles by Kim Abraham, LMSW - page 4

Young Kids with ODD: Is It Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Just Bratty Behavior?

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

29 Comments

“That’s just the Terrible Two’s.” “He's just being a brat. All he needs is a good attitude adjustment.” “She needs to know that you’re in control. Be consistent.” If your young child is behaving in a way that is oppositional or defiant, you’ve probably heard one or more of these phrases from family, friends, teachers or the lady... Read more »

Is Your Defiant Child Damaging or Destroying Your Home?

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

54 Comments

Punching holes in the wall. Breaking and throwing things. Smashing your car's windshield. Most of us never expect to face these behaviors from our children, but it happens all too often with defiant children and teens. We see many kids who purposely destroy family property out of anger or for spiteful, vengeful reasons. And when it... Read more »

When ODD Kids, Entitlement Mentality and Verbal Abuse Collide

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

1 Comment

Over the years, as technology has evolved and material things have become more readily available, our society has developed a strong sense of “the wants.” In this modern world, we don’t like to wait for things like computers, cars and houses—delayed gratification is a thing of the past. Our children have embraced this sense of... Read more »

Parenting ODD Children and Teens: How to Make Consequences Work

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

123 Comments

Kids who exhibit behaviors of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are not your typical kids. They behave in ways that scream “I don’t care what you want me to do” and truly have little or no regard for what their parents or society expect of them. Finding effective consequences for these kids is difficult. Unlike typical... Read more »

Failure to Launch: Six Steps to Help Your Adult Child Move Out

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

152 Comments

Many parents today are faced with a dilemma: How do I support my adult child in becoming independent? Do I let my adult child live in my home while they struggle to find a job? These parents think: "The economy is bad…maybe there really are no jobs out there. Should I continue paying for things... Read more »

Failure to Launch: How Adult Children Work the “Parent System”

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

141 Comments

If you, like many parents, have an adult child living at home with you, you’re not alone. There’s an epidemic of young adults in our society who are struggling to get off the ground. In many families, this works out fine—the adult child is responsible and contributes to the household while they set themselves up... Read more »

Failure to Launch: Why So Many Adult Kids Still Live With Their Parents

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

93 Comments

This article is the first in a 3-part series by Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW on the growing problem of adult children living at home. Are you one of the millions of frustrated, exhausted parents whose unmotivated adult child still lives at home with you? Like many in this situation, you might be feeling... Read more »

My Child Is Using Drugs or Drinking Alcohol—What Should I Do?

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

9 Comments

You thought your son was just experimenting with drugs but had stopped. Now he’s failed a drug test for his work-study program at school, and you know: this is serious. Your teen daughter is hanging around with kids who are notorious for drinking and partying on the weekends. She’s come home drunk twice this month.... Read more »

ODD Kids and Behavior: 5 Things You Need to Know as a Parent

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

80 Comments

Do you often feel overwhelmed as the parent of an ODD child? Kimberly Abraham and Marney Studaker-Cordner have worked with parents of kids with Oppositional Defiant Disorder for 20 years—and Kim is the parent of an adult child with ODD. Read on to find out the 5 things you need to know to be a... Read more »

ODD Kids: How to Manage Violent Behavior in Children and Teens

By Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW

35 Comments

Has your oppositional, defiant child’s behavior escalated to the point where he’s using physical force against you—or do you fear that he might? Kim Abraham and Marney Studaker-Cordner have worked with parents of kids with Oppositional Defiant Disorder for 20 years—and Kim is the parent of an adult child with ODD. In this article, they... Read more »