Archive for April, 2010

Welcome back. This is the 5th article in a series about teen feelings. Today, we look at the more subtle reasons why it is important to listen to your teen, and 6 tips for doing so. 1. I cannot stress enough the importance of taking the time to listen to your teen when they seek…

This morning I realized – or maybe “remembered” is a better word – that I have the kind of brain that never stops…thinking, writing, speaking, singing, problem solving, planning, creating, organizing… It’s a monolithic multi-tasker. Some people might say that it’s a distracting burden, but I say that it’s a glorious gift! I love my…

Welcome Back. This is the fourth article in a series about teen feelings. In this article, we take action to build your youngster’s emotional competence. 1. First, let me say that in general, the emotional body is part of our human survival system; it helps us decide what is needed in a situation. In other…

This week, I take some time to share a little something extra that inspired me (and take a break from the “Teen Feelings” series): Last night I watched an older Meryl Streep movie called First do no harm. It was about a mother on a mission to help her son with a medical condition that…

To follow up on Teen Feelings – Part 3, which gives a context for looking at suicide, here is a list of suicide warning signs. These signs mean your youngster’s state has likely reached a serious and critical level, and it is time to take more serious and direct action. It is also wise at…

In this third article of the Teen Feelings series, we skip right into the issue of suicide. 1. As I stated in Teen Feelings – Part 1, a general “rule of thumb” is to take all suicidal thoughts and statements that a child makes seriously. Although things may feel dramatic or silly to parents, suicidal…