Ten to Twenty Parenting

Your Last Day We had a bit of a scare recently.  Ol’ Willie Wonka had to duck, dodge, and high tail it away from… the light!  I’m happy to report that he’s doing well and got a completely clean bill of health on Monday, after about 3 weeks of evading my old nemesis, the Grim Reaper.  The guy is hard to evade, but a sore loser he is not.  Another story… Amid that scare, as a family we were faced with not only the possibility of having to say our Goodbyes, but having to choose the right time at which to say our final farewell.  There is no good way to choose which day or time to bid farewell to a big chunk of your family’s heart.  We have counted our blessings many times over in recent weeks, as we did not have to make that final call. We tried to think of a way to celebrate what fleeting time we may have had left:  A roadtrip?  Sunset on our favorite slice of heaven?  Doggy treats for dinner?  Extra long walk?  At the time, Ol’ Willie’s health wasn’t well enough for him to do or enjoy any of those old [...]

Ten to Twenty Parenting - Great advice for parents of teenagers and tweens on parenting

Ten to Twenty Parenting

We are all familiar with the situation.  Our teen wakes up on a big, important day to find a pimple front and center…and it’s the end of the world.  As a  parent, we can’t do much more than try (in vain) to convince them it isn’t as devastating as it seems. Even worse, there aren’t any quick-fixes for these unsightly blemishes.  However, there are ways to prevent future breakouts.  Here are seven ways you can help your teen reduce the chance of pimples and zits. 1. Wash Your Face Every Day It is essential to remove impurities, dead skin cells, and excess oil.  This is one of the best ways to keep your skin healthy and acne-free.  Here are some things to keep in mind. Choose a mild facial cleanser.  Harsh soaps will irritate the already inflamed skin. Use warm, not hot, water. Don’t use a washcloth, exfoliation glove, or loofah to scrub the area.  This will just aggravate the damaged skin more. Always use a clean towel to pat your face dry.  Dirty towels can spread bacteria. 2.  Be Careful with Makeup First of all, be a savvy shopper when choosing your cosmetics.  Look for oil-free, water-based products.  Stay [...]

Ten to Twenty Parenting - Great advice for parents of teenagers and tweens on parenting

Ten to Twenty Parenting

Children naturally learn by example. Therefore, one of the easiest ways to teach them green living is to show them that you are environmentally responsible. Start teaching them the importance of saving the Earth and offer fun ideas to get them recycling and using natural resources. Such explanations should be tailored to your child’s age to prevent boredom or misunderstandings. Here are some daily actions you can take to greenify your family’s life. Morning Teach your kids to turn off the water as they brush their teeth and turn off the lights in the bathroom when leaving. Explain how taking these steps saves water and electricity. Make a point to eat unprocessed, organic foods for breakfast. Unprocessed foods are generally healthier than those that have been prepared in a factory. By choosing organic foods, you avoid unnatural pesticides and other hazardous substances. Get exercise and try walking or bike your kids to school. If it’s too far or the weather isn’t permitting, carpool or take the bus. Explain to your little ones how alternate modes of transportation can lower gas emissions and improve the quality of our air. Throughout the Day Use recycled materials when possible. In school, a child [...]

Ten to Twenty Parenting - Great advice for parents of teenagers and tweens on parenting

Ten to Twenty Parenting

Having 3 girls in the teen/tween age range, I’ve given up hope on EVER having what I consider an “adult” house. I walk into some houses and am in awe that their stuff matches. And they have chatchka. And there’s no dust. Or empty soda cans. Remember the days when Fisher Price decorated your house and your living room looked like Geoffrey the Giraffe puked all over it? Those days are like wine and roses compared to what your house looks like when you have a teen living with you. Here are the signs that a teen is living in your house: The white stuff in the trees aren’t buds getting ready to bloom. It’s toilet paper from when you last got TP-ed. There are more panties on the floor than in a frat house during rush week. There are enough empty bottles in the bottom of the shower to fill a landfill. You think you’re losing your hearing, asking “what?!” all the time but it’s just the fact they mumble. You have no money. They have no money. Who has the money? That bad habit they had as toddlers for throwing things in the grocery cart still exists. Their [...]

Ten to Twenty Parenting - Great advice for parents of teenagers and tweens on parenting

Ten to Twenty Parenting

I know that people mean well when they do it. Bless their hearts, sometimes they just can’t help the things that come out of their mouths. When you’re a parent, you get lots of advice.  And if you know me, you know that I hate unsolicited advice. I hated it when I was single and people told me how to find a husband. I hated it when I was pregnant and people told me how I should take care of myself. I hated it when my kids were small and people told me how to discipline them. Unless I walk up to you and say “Excuse me, random stranger – could you please tell me your thoughts on ____________ ” I really don’t want to hear your advice. But what if you’re the parent in a unique position? Like having more than 4 kids or having all your kids be of the same sex? When you have daughters – especially THREE daughters, you tend to get a lot of “advice”. People have said some pretty ballsy things to us over the years.  Things that when it comes out of their mouths you cock your head to the side and think… “did you [...]

Ten to Twenty Parenting - Great advice for parents of teenagers and tweens on parenting