by admin | Aug 19, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Strangers Groping Gorgeous Hair and Driving Without a Permit for 08/19/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My 13-year-old daughter has the most incredible red hair with ringlets. It’s really striking, and she gets a lot of attention for it. She mostly enjoys the attention. But often, people she doesn’t even know feel compelled to run their fingers through her hair. They just want to touch it. My daughter isn’t particularly touchy-feely, and she feels violated when someone touches her hair. How can I help her politely ward off unwanted touching when the strangers are only trying to be complimentary? – Redhead’s Mom
Dear Mom: Your daughter has every right to control how and when her hair is touched. It is an extension of her body, and she should be given complete power to refuse any unwanted touching.
Updated: Sat Aug 19, 2017
Strangers Groping Gorgeous Hair and Driving Without a Permit for 08/19/2017
by admin | Aug 18, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
How To Tell a Child About a Sexual Assault for 08/18/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: I was sexually assaulted in college. I never told anyone in my family. It’s taken years, but I am not in pain anymore. As my daughter begins her freshman year of high school, I am feeling the urge to tell her my story. I want her to know what can happen to girls, but I also don’t want to frighten her. When and how should I tell her? – Afraid
Dear Afraid: It must have been difficult to go through an assault without sharing it with your family. I’m glad you have been able to find a path to feeling less pain. It is perfectly appropriate to tell your daughter your story. It can make the lessons of safety more relevant.
Updated: Fri Aug 18, 2017
How To Tell a Child About a Sexual Assault for 08/18/2017
by admin | Aug 12, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
A Bisexual Friend and a New IPad for 08/12/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My daughter is 16, and she has a good friend who identifies as bisexual. I try to be open-minded, but I get the feeling that this girl is hitting on my daughter. I hear certain comments and see some suggestions. This makes me very uncomfortable. What should I do? – Not Ready for Sex Mom
Dear Mom: You better get ready for sex because, sooner or later, it is coming your way. Sticking your head in the sand won’t make hormones and desires hold off. It will just leave your daughter alone to fend for herself. Get a grip, and start talking to her.
Updated: Sat Aug 12, 2017
A Bisexual Friend and a New IPad for 08/12/2017
by admin | Aug 11, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Divorced Parents and Choking on a Pea for 08/11/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: I’m a divorced mom with a 10-year-old son. The arrangement with my ex is my son switches houses every weekend. He often forgets something inconsequential like a uniform or a book at one place or the other. Whenever I get frustrated with him, he tells me I don’t understand how hard it is to have divorced parents because my parents are still married. I feel he uses the divorce as an excuse and tries to make me feel guilty. How can I respond to him without sounding insensitive? – Mom Not Buying It
Dear Mom: I think it’s possible your son is making excuses and having divorced parents is hard. Organization isn’t always a strong suit for a 10-year-old. Add an additional home with twice as much to keep orderly and you have recipe for constant misplacement of important items. Imagine you had to travel for work every single week. Don’t you think you might forget a thing or two along the way?
Before doing anything about the missing items, take a moment to listen to your son. He is trying to tell you that having divorced parents isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes it’s inconvenient. Sometimes it’s frustrating. And I bet sometimes it’s upsetting. Don’t try to talk him out of that. Listen and show him some empathy. He didn’t ask for this situation.
Updated: Fri Aug 11, 2017
Divorced Parents and Choking on a Pea for 08/11/2017
by admin | Aug 5, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
A Book Lover and a Kind Soul for 08/05/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: I feel one of my great failures as a parent is that my kids are not readers. They spend tons of time on their phones, like most other kids, and they diligently complete their homework. But free time is never spent reading. When I impose reading time, it feels like a punishment rather than a pleasure, which seems counterproductive. Any tips? – Reading Mama
Dear Mama: Give yourself and your kids a break. The joy of reading comes naturally to some children. Others may not see the benefits for years to come, if ever. While being able to read is important, a love of reading isn’t required to have a life filled with happiness and success.
Updated: Sat Aug 05, 2017
A Book Lover and a Kind Soul for 08/05/2017
