“My son got sent home from school again for fighting on the playground. I just can’t help feeling like if I was a better parent – if I hadn’t yelled so much when he was little, if I’d spent more time with him, if I’d been more consistent with consequences – that he wouldn’t be... Read more »
A child’s disrespectful behavior can be a parent’s greatest “button-pusher.” A dad recently shared his frustration about his 14-year-old daughter’s disrespect: “I told her she couldn’t go to a party until her room was picked up – it’s an absolute mess – and she just exploded. She yelled, told me she hated me and slammed... Read more »
“You know the kid that no one wants to play with? The kid who stands alone at recess or lunch? Who never gets invited to birthday parties? That’s my kid. And it breaks my heart.” When a child is aggressive toward others—hitting, screaming, pushing, throwing things—the natural response of others is to avoid this child.... Read more »
Are you a parent who feels like you’ve tried everything—and failed—in an attempt to manage your oppositional, defiant child? You’re not alone. Parenting an ODD kid can be one of the most frustrating things any parent faces. The good news is that there is hope. You may be thinking, “Yeah right, nothing can help my kid!” While it’s... Read more »
You: “Please put your things away.” Your child: “I’m busy. I’ll do it later.” You: “You need to do your homework.” Your child: “It’s stupid. I’m not doing it!” You: “You’re not allowed to go to that party. You’re grounded.” Your child: “NO! I’m not grounded! I’m going!” Does it... Read more »
There are times when a home can feel like a battlefield, with constant tension and fighting. One mom described life with her son this way: “I can usually tell what kind of day it’s going to be from the minute he gets up. If it’s going to be a bad day, I walk around on... Read more »
It seems whenever you turn on any news program there’s a frightening story about today’s youth: violence, vandalism, risky behavior and outright refusal to follow parental or societal rules. The fact is there have always been a certain number of people – youth and adults – who engage in criminal behavior, since the beginning of... Read more »
"I wouldn't be in trouble at school if my mom had just written me an excuse," complained a teen I was counseling recently. "And the teacher didn't have to fail me–he could've let me off with a warning!" As I listened to this bright 15-year-old kid explain why everyone was at fault for his situation... Read more »
Recently, I was sitting at lunch with a friend, swapping stories about our families. I shared that I was concerned about how my adult stepdaughter was doing—she was facing a difficult situation thousands of miles away from home. “Well,” my friend said, “You don’t have to worry about that. You’re not her real mom.” You’re not... Read more »
As a parent, when all else fails, sometimes all you can do is laugh. But did you also know that finding the humor in a situation is actually a helpful coping skill that, when used correctly, can be very effective? For starters, laughter helps give you some objectivity and allows you to find common ground... Read more »