Here is a link to the first in a five-article series from Focus on the Family regarding how to deal with kids who have been viewing porn. The articles are brief, but share some helpful perspectives. I will undoubtedly be sharing some of my own recommendations in this regard in Read more…
As an expert in working with adolescents, people often look to me as an expert in understanding youth culture today. I do what I can to stay “up” on the key dynamics that are happening throughout “youth culture” in our country and our region. Sometimes this is fun and entertaining. Read more…
Thanks to David Dixon of Smart Parenting (via Twitter) for bringing this short, very practical article to my attention. I have long encouraged parents to be very pro-active in engaging television and other electronic entertainment with their children. In fact, this was the topic of my doctoral dissertation – long Read more…
I recently referred to teens and tweens in a Twitter post, and promised a forthcoming blog post on why I hate the term “Tweens.” Here it is. If you are easily offended, you might want to stop reading now. If you think it is cute to pose your pre-teens as Read more…
Parents, if your child has a cell-phone, or if you are thinking of allowing your child to have a cell-phone – you really need to be aware of the power of this electronic portal. You may think, “But, it’s just a cell-phone. What’s the big deal?” Let me assure you, Read more…
“Unmerited favor.” For some reason, I remember that being the classic simple definition of grace I have heard over the years of my religious experience. I would always smile and nod, and offer my intellectual agreement with this two word explanation. But truthfully, “unmerited favor” just doesn’t connect with me Read more…
Yesterday, as I was driving home from my office, an electronic sign caught my eye. A daycare center on my daily commute route has one of those electronic billboard signs that changes to flash up multiple messages. It’s the kind of thing that grabs your attention the first few times Read more…
I just wanted to pass along this very helpful resource to parents of adolescents. The organization is called the Center for Parent-Youth Understanding, and it is one of the best sources of helpful encouragement and information for parenting teens I have ever found. Here is a link to their Read more…
Today I will be speaking to a gathering of parents at a youth rally in Livingston, LA. I am so grateful for the opportunity to encourage, challenge, and equip these parents! Working with teens and their parents has become one of my great passions in life, and every opportunity is Read more…
Here is a sneak peak at my upcoming column in the March/April issue of Southern Families Magazine. I don’t know how much editing the column will undergo for publication, but here is my original, based on a question submitted from a parent through the Parenting 101 page on WAFB’s website. Thanks to this mom for allowing me to share the basics of her situation and my response, so others can learn how to better address a very common parenting challenge.
Q.
“I have a very “outgoing” 5 year old in Kindergarten. She is aware of the rules at school, and does her work with excellent marks. The problem is she won’t stop talking in class, and sometimes sasses the teacher when she tries to correct her. I really just need help in the respect area of authority it seems.”
A.
First of all, believe me – you are not alone! The bad news is you are raising your daughter in a culture that largely tolerates behavior you and her teachers recognize to be disrespectful. The good news is you have already recognized it while she is only 5 years old. You can now steer her to the right path for a lifetime of respectfulness – which will almost certainly bring her greater peace, enjoyment, and success along the way.
The first key to putting an end to your daughter’s sassy ways is communicating with authority that you will no longer tolerate disrespect from her. From now on you will expect her to be respectful to all adults and authorities in her life. There is a huge difference between wishing she will change and expecting her to be respectful. Expecting her to be respectful means speaking to her (and even looking at her) with a clear, consistent message that you are in charge – not her, and that you WILL NOT TOLERATE disrespect from her. It also means truly believing she will respond correctly now, not skeptically hoping she might change some day.
You may be surprised how dramatically she responds to your newfound authority, but this will likely not provide the total solution. (more…)