Blog
A Matrix for Measuring Success
The Success Nebulous
I am always fascinated by the different ways families define and measure success. Just like the words bat and well, success can carry multiple meanings. For some, it might mean achieving Honor Roll status after months of evening homework and study sessions. For others, it could mean earning a spot on the All-Star team. Some may deem the preservation of Family Game Nights as a major success, while others may simply feel that remembering to grab breakfast before rushing
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Mar 4th 2025
Teaching Kids How to Be a Great Friend and Have Great Friends
“In order to get a friend, you have to be a friend. Be ready to be a friend.”
This insightful quote from Maya Angelou highlights a valuable truism: The first step to having meaningful and rewarding friendships requires becoming a good friend and being friendly to others.
With that in mind, what are the best strategies and tips we can share with our kids to help them be a better friend and enjoy healthier friendships? Here are several that can make a real difference:
Use active list
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Feb 5th 2025
The Treasures You Seek
The week before Christmas, my husband and I filled up our travel mugs with coffee and ventured forth into the dark of night. The classic holiday tunes on the radio, with a little help from our car’s heater, kept us warm as we made our annual trek around town to view all the holiday décor. We were armed with our official 2024 Scavenger Hunt checklist. The list included items we look forward to every year. The old favorites that keep us grounded, but with a hoped-for surprise or two.
Some items
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Jan 7th 2025
Calling All Members of The Tortured Poets Department: The Rise of Mental Health Concerns in Young People (Part 1)
The
topic of Taylor Swift’s artistic merit seems to be as divisive as the great cilantro
debate (a flavor to be savored, or a soapy abomination to the herb world?), yet
critics and fans alike have praised the inspired verses of her latest album
“The Tortured Poets Department” (TTPD).Celebrated
for their vulnerability and relatability, her latest lyrics, capture many of
the current mental health struggles felt by today’s youth. Her words speak to
numerous and seemingly unrelated struggles
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Oct 25th 2024
You, Too, Can Fail for the Win!
Fail? For the win?Who in their right mind would ever want to fail? And
how can it be considered a win? Whether we like it or not (and trust me…we don’t like it!), somewhere
along the road to adulthood and maturity, our kids will experience setbacks,
disappointments, and failure. They won’t make the team. They’ll flub a word in the
spelling bee. They’ll lose out on the lead in the spring musical. They won’t
get admitted to their first-choice college. They’ll be sad or angry or disappointed,
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Mar 5th 2024
How to Raise a Confident Child
As a mom, I wanted to instill confidence in my three
children, but I always feared that if they became overly confident, they would
struggle.
Confidence is an attribute that will serve a child for life.
However, overconfidence can keep kids from growing, learning, and reaching their
ultimate potential. At the same time, if children care
too much about the opinions of others, they may start to question or doubt
their own intrinsic self-worth.
As parents, embracing our children for wh
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Jun 8th 2023
4 Tips for Supporting a Child with Depression
This article was originally shared on momaha.com.Depression affects kids in a variety of ways and can be situational or a constant in their life.There are a few things parents can do to help keep depression at bay and help their kids through this challenging time. Here are a few tips:1. Implement routine and schedules for your kids throughout the day.For example, try to eat meals and snacks at similar times during the day. If your kids are school-age, implement a study hour at the same time each
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May 1st 2023
Your Child Disagrees with You… Now What?
If your children are anything like mine, you know that from
time to time (and some days it definitely feels like ALL THE TIME), they are
going to disagree with you. When that happens, how tolerant are you? Do you try
to hear them out, or do you immediately shut them down? Can you engage in a give-and-take
dialogue, or do you fall into the trap of a lose-lose shout fest?
Moms and dads who adhere to a more authoritarian,
my-way-or-the-highway parenting philosophy may have little patienc
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Jan 20th 2023
Presence or Presents? Five Ways to Be More Present During the Holidays
As you reflect on the
holiday season, what images, sentiments, or traditions come to mind first? Maybe it’s religious
services. Or family meals and tasty sweets. Perhaps it’s traveling near and far
to see loved ones. Hosting large celebrations or enjoying more intimate affairs.
Exchanging store-bought or homemade gifts, or maybe you forgo gift-giving
altogether? Whatever your holiday
rituals and customs involve, is there room to explore a new tradition? This year, I encourage
everyone to
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Dec 12th 2022
Helping Your Child Deal with Rumors
Your child comes home from school feeling sad, embarrassed,
and angry. After probing, you find out your child has been the victim of untrue
rumors being spread about him. Why is this happening? How can you support your
child through this? How can your child prove something didn’t happen…when it
didn’t happen? There are steps to take when dealing with rumors and gossip.First, find out where the rumors started. Ask your
child if she knows how the rumors started? Does she know the child/ren wh
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Oct 4th 2022