Our kids may party. They may party hard. And — what if some useful learnings may result from unlikely places? This isn’t saying we should start handing out free party passes for irresponsibility — learning to handle ourselves thoughtfully and…
A Checklist for Senior Year of High School
Have or know a high school senior (or someone who will be one in the next few years)? Here’s some food for thought on what to do (or not) senior year from a recent graduate. A Checklist for Senior Year…
Teen Speak: Notes to Self When Life is Changing
This summer was a season of unknowns. I felt untethered, unsure, and unsteady most of the time. Frankly, it kind of sucked. And now the summer is over. There is comfort in being back in the routine of school, though…
Responsibilities and A**hat Mode
Let’s all take a reminder for today (adults/parents and teens/kids alike): We’re not responsible for the feelings, happiness, or emotional well being of any other person — only ourselves. Say it with me if you need to. We’re not responsible…
Teaching Teens Finances: Resources We’re Trying
With the oldest heading off to college in a month, we’ve been talking a lot about finances this summer. I hope she’ll head off with a few more tools in her belt than I did. (She’s also quite a bit…
A Season of Unknowns: What’s Helping (and What’s Not)
Read a teen’s version of how we can help in a seasons of unknowns. I’m finding this summer unexpectedly challenging. From the oldest finishing high school and soon heading away to college, to the youngest getting ready to start a…
Getting More Done
Thoughts on beating burnout and becoming more productive — with my teen in mind. (Check out her take here.) Dear Lexie, “Get more done!!!!” is on my brain right now — this space is quicksand. I know you’ve spent plenty…
Belonging To Oneself
If we want our children to belong to themselves*, to know and feel and get that they are awesome and worthy and enough and full of potential and possibility, that they do not need to fit into the box of…
Crazy Go Fast Lady
Yesterday was the first “real” day of summer break for my two youngest and me (no remaining school functions or purely recovery days from the fullness of the last few weeks). As noted in yesterday’s post, I’m realizing that I…
Do You Like Structure? I’ve Been Ambivalent
Today I’m thinking about structure and schedules. This brain dump moves around a bit (my thought process is rarely linear; in most posts I try to make it more so, though today I’ll let it dance where it wants). There…