by admin | Jul 29, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Running After the Mean Girls and an Ignoring Stepdaughter for 07/29/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My 7-year-old daughter is not very savvy on the playground. She is constantly chasing after the “mean girls” because she says they play more exciting games than her own friends. Should we be helping her understand that it is better to hang with those who appreciate her and want her around, even if the game is a little bit boring, rather than trying to play the more exciting games with the girls who barely give her the time of day? – Playground Mom
Dear Playground: Your daughter is experimenting with the playground social hierarchy. Friendships shift constantly as children grow. Navigating the social system is arduous, even for adults. Your daughter might need your input on this one at some point. But maybe not yet.
Updated: Sat Jul 29, 2017
Running After the Mean Girls and an Ignoring Stepdaughter for 07/29/2017
by admin | Jul 28, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
A Shaggy-Haired Grandson and a Young Fan of Rap Music for 07/28/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My family is throwing a party for my father’s 65th birthday, and my mother told me to cut my 13-year-old son’s hair or not bring him along. Do I haul my kid to a barber over his objections, or is it OK to leave him at home? Help! – Dad in the Middle
Dear In the Middle: It must be incredibly sad to see your parents throw down a cold-hearted ultimatum. They clearly have an image of what a young man should look like and, regrettably, it isn’t the image of your son. I would never recommend involuntarily butchering a pubescent teen’s hair. That’s the time in a person’s life when identity is being formed. One’s appearance is extremely central to that identity. It would be a colossal assault to make him cut off his hair.
Updated: Fri Jul 28, 2017
A Shaggy-Haired Grandson and a Young Fan of Rap Music for 07/28/2017
by admin | Jul 22, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Little Miss Know-It-All and a Defiant Boy for 07/22/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: Sometimes I notice that my child acts like a know-it-all. She is constantly raising her hand in class and telling her friends the best way to do play a game or do any task. Her friends are getting annoyed, and I see how it causes her to struggle socially. How can I help her work better with her peers? – Know-It-All’s Mom
Dear Mom: There are several reasons you may be raising a know-it-all. Your daughter might be highly intelligent and simply interested in sharing her knowledge. She might also have a fragile self-esteem. In other words, she acts like a know-it-all because she is afraid kids won’t like her if she acts like herself. Lastly, your daughter might have difficulty reading social situations. She likely doesn’t understand the effect her actions have on her peers. I bet she is struggling with one or more of these reasons.
Updated: Sat Jul 22, 2017
Little Miss Know-It-All and a Defiant Boy for 07/22/2017
by admin | Jul 21, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
The Front Seat and Bickering Siblings for 07/21/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My wife lets my 10-year-old sit in the front seat of the car. She says it’s no big deal, but it freaks me out. Am I overreacting? – Scared Dad
Dear Dad: You aren’t overreacting. The safest place for a child to ride in the car is buckled up in the back seat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, in the absence of state regulations, recommend that a child under the age of 13 sit in the back seat. Why? Because car accidents are a leading cause of death and severe injury in children, and air bags in the front seat contribute to the danger.
Updated: Fri Jul 21, 2017
The Front Seat and Bickering Siblings for 07/21/2017
by admin | Jul 15, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Costume Dreams and Game Night Resistance for 07/15/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: Last year, my daughter, who was 8 years old, wanted her own Halloween costume to be her favorite singer, Lady Gaga. The costume was sparkly and glittery and revealed a lot of skin. I was uncomfortable with it and promised to get it next year. I figured she’d forget, but she keeps mentioning her Lady Gaga costume, even though Halloween is months away. I don’t know what to do. The costume makes her look like a Vegas showgirl. But I gave my word. What to do? – Conservative Mom
Dear Mom: Oops, you made one of the classic parenting blunders. You made a promise hoping your Lady Gaga-obsessed daughter would forget. Of course she didn’t forget. She’s 8, not 2. She loves her some Lady Gaga and wants to dress like her idol. You should never have tried to push it off or make her forget. Now you have to live up to your word, lest you want to teach her that words mean nothing.
Updated: Sat Jul 15, 2017
Costume Dreams and Game Night Resistance for 07/15/2017
by admin | Jul 14, 2017 | Dear Family Coach
Overeating Boys and a Strong-Willed Girl for 07/14/2017
Dear Family Coach
Dear Family Coach: My boys, 10 and 11 years old, are terrific eaters. They love fruits and vegetables and trying all kinds of new foods. But their appetites have grown, and they seem to be getting a little chunky. How can I help them lose a few pounds without ruining their love of eating? – Food Lover, Too
Dear Food Lover: Wow, you’ve somehow cracked the picky eating code. It’s terrific that your boys love food and are adventurous eaters. They sound like a pleasure to have around the dining table. However, it is still a good idea to make sure you are creating healthy eating habits.
Updated: Fri Jul 14, 2017
Overeating Boys and a Strong-Willed Girl for 07/14/2017
