by admin | Oct 21, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Ruined Skin and Taking a Knee for 10/21/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My daughter is a freshman in high school. She’s addicted to makeup and wears it all the time. Sometimes she just plays around with it in her room for fun. She’s gotten quite good at it. But her complexion is deteriorating. She doesn’t seem to care, even as she breaks out. What can I do to get her to wear less makeup and care for her skin better? – Concerned
Dear Concerned: Gene Simmons and Bobbi Brown were also addicted to makeup, and look where it got them. Your daughter is a teenager, and she’s experimenting with makeup. That’s certainly age-appropriate. Asking her to lay off of it is akin to asking her to stop texting with her friends. It’s just not going to happen. Also, her skin might be deteriorating due to puberty, not just the makeup.
Updated: Sat Oct 21, 2017
Ruined Skin and Taking a Knee for 10/21/2017
by admin | Oct 20, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
A Lonely Dad and Leaving out a Friend for 10/20/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: I’ve always been a very involved dad. But now that my children are in sixth and ninth grade, they no longer need me. I’m constantly begging them to do something with me, and when they can’t, I make them feel guilty. I don’t mean to do it. I’m just so sad they are so busy. I’m feeling rejected. What can I do to make the kids spend more time with me? –All Alone Dad
Dear Dad: What a pity party you’ve got going! I’m not sure I’d want to spend time with you either. Laying on the guilt and begging the kids may increase your chances they will hang out with you. But it won’t make them enjoy it.
Updated: Fri Oct 20, 2017
A Lonely Dad and Leaving out a Friend for 10/20/2017
by admin | Oct 14, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Devastating Headlines and Single Fatherhood for 10/14/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: Lately, all of the news is having a disastrous effect on me. Every day, I become more and more depressed about world events, tragic shootings, police brutality and natural disasters. There is suffering all around, and I’m feeling hopeless. At the same time, I’m trying to protect my kids and put on a happy face. I worry I’m failing. Please help me. – Losing It
Dear Losing It: I commend you for not wanting to unleash your worries on your kids. But you are allowed to be human and be affected by the world. If they see something is bothering you, then feel free to share it with them in an age-appropriate way.
Updated: Sat Oct 14, 2017
Devastating Headlines and Single Fatherhood for 10/14/2017
by admin | Oct 13, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
An Unwanted Boyfriend and Missing Parenting for 10/13/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My 15-year-old daughter believes she is in love. Despite our objections, she says that she will see her “boyfriend” no matter what we say. I don’t allow dating until age 16. And I think in my daughter’s case, it needs to be more like 17 or 18. She struggles with depression and is very rebellious, disorganized and very naive. To avoid drama, my husband convinced me to allow her to visit the “boyfriend’s” house. Should I be bending the rules for the sake of peace? – Stricter Parent
Dear Stricter: I hate to say this, but putting the word “boyfriend” in quotation marks doesn’t change his status. Your daughter is in love, and there isn’t much you can do about it. The trouble is that any efforts you put forth to curb her dating will only push it further underground. She will say she is with a friend when she is really with him. And you will have no idea what she is up to, or with whom. Don’t go the route of forbidding her relationship. Instead, become a mentor and a safe place for her to talk about the intricacies of dating.
Updated: Fri Oct 13, 2017
An Unwanted Boyfriend and Missing Parenting for 10/13/2017
by admin | Oct 7, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Devastating News and Constant Rebellion for 10/07/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My kids are exposed to what seems to be an endless stream of devastating news. Natural disasters, mass shootings and other forms of unspeakable violence are impossible for them to avoid. It’s so normal for them that they are starting to turn jaded. I don’t want to freak them out or have them live in fear, but at the same time, I don’t want them to lack sympathy for the victims of these events. How do I strike a balance? – Sick of It
Dear Sick: It’s a horrible shame that our kids are growing up in this environment. Before the victims of one hurricane or event are taken care of, there are more victims to worry about. As adults, we find it exhausting to manage the emotions of the constant barrage. For children, it’s even trickier.
Updated: Sat Oct 07, 2017
Devastating News and Constant Rebellion for 10/07/2017
by admin | Oct 6, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
A Stressed Schoolgirl and Wanting a Dog for 10/06/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My fun, bright, accomplished fifth-grader is stressed. She is teary at the drop of a hat, expresses feeling left out and articulates that she’s overwhelmed by school. She says the trouble is keeping track of the multitude of notebooks and folders. She worries about upcoming work for the week and having so many things to remember. She seems to be alone a lot, too. What can we do to help her? – Concerned Parents
Dear Concerned: Your little girl is getting steamrolled by her world. It may seem hard to imagine why elementary school can be so stressful, but there are lots of moving parts. For some, it can feel like too much. Now is a good time to work on her issues before she moves into middle school, which has bigger challenges.
Updated: Fri Oct 06, 2017
A Stressed Schoolgirl and Wanting a Dog for 10/06/2017
