When Teens Talk Back...

Every parent would love to think their teens are perfect and respect them. But, truth be told, that’s probably not true. Parents especially feel their children aren’t perfect when teens talk back. If it’s happened to one parent, it’s most likely happened to many more. What is a parent to do? Parents don’t often realize the cause of talking back. For a teen, they may feel frustrated or powerless...

Choose Your Battles – Don’t Sweat the ...

Psychologist James Dobson wrote a book entitled Parenting Isn’t for Cowards. In that book, he explains how it’ important, as a parent, to choose your battles wisely when dealing with your child’s behavior or misbehavior. When a child is born into a family, the parents will want to discuss ideas about discipline and training their child. They’ll want to decide upon which behaviors are absolutely...

St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Ideas...

If you’ve been in Chicago around March 17, you may have seen the Chicago River dyed green. You know you’ll see people in that springtime color, as well. When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day dessert ideas, do they all have to be green, too? Actually, there is more to St. Patrick’s Day than the color green, although you may not be able to tell it from a cursory look around you. Since people expect to see...

Too Sick for School?...

No matter how much your child enjoys school, at some point they’re probably going to try to convince you they’re too sick for school. You may not be concerned if this happens once in a while, but when it occurs often in a week or two, you may want to know if something else is going on. As a parent you want to know if they’re trying to avoid something or someone. It’s not unusual for children at school...

Healthy Snack Ideas that Help You Lose Weight...

It’s not uncommon for people to try to shed extra pounds. Many times people decide to try to lose weight at the beginning of the New Year. If you’re trying to slim down, here are some healthy snack ideas to help you lose weight. People often think that when they’re trying to drop extra pounds they’re limited to what they can eat, and that’s true to a degree. But, there’s no need to starve...

Ideas on How to Enjoy a Fun Family Night In...

It’s a common complaint of many families these days. Everyone is involved in so many activities that it’s hard to come together and enjoy time as a family. Consider some of these ideas on how to enjoy a fun family night in instead of everyone going their separate ways. Scientifically it has been proven that families who eat meals together are more emotionally connected and more stable. And since everyone has to...

Pet Insurance – An Explanation...

Medical costs seem to be skyrocketing with each passing year. The same is often true when it comes to providing medical care for our furry friends. Many people choose to purchase pet insurance. Here are some questions to think about if you’re considering this type of insurance. * Is pet insurance necessary for every kind of pet? Not necessarily. Some animals have very short life spans, so it’s unlikely you would...

Privacy and Personal Time – Why Are They Imp...

As a parent you want to keep lines of communication between yourself and your teen open. However, they may not be very forthcoming with details about their friends, what’s going on at school, or in their life in general. They want their privacy and personal time. Why are they important to your teen and how can you honor their privacy and still keep them talking to you? More than anything, your teen needs to know that...