Parenting Teens and Getting a Divorce At The Same Time

Let's face it, parenting teens today can be extremely challenging.  With today's struggling economy and the stress of making ends meet, some parents are going through a divorce while trying to be a parent.

Getting a divorce is never easy, even if you have two amicable people and have all the best intentions in the world that your divorce will be a few signatures away, there are always bumps - if not pot holes!
Now double that stress while your teen is going through puberty, trying to keep their grades up to get into the college of their choice and emotionally feel the absence of what they once knew as their family.

According to the Ft. Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog, Monroe County, Florida which is south of Broward and Miami-Dade has the second highest rate of divorced residents in the United States of America.

About.com has listed five tips that parents that are divorcing need to consider:

1. Take care of yourself.
2. Be available.
3. Stay consistent in discipline, routines, and relationships.
4. Keep your promises - both expressed and implied.
5. Be the one to model resilience.

Read complete tips at About.com.

Now look at number one.  What are you doing for yourself?  Well, there's a Blog for that!  Recently launched and about to offer a world of advice, resources, tips, and best of all  - voices from people that have gone through a divorce.

52 Things To Do After Your Divorce is a brilliant Blog that you can share your own experiences and feel free to ask questions of others that may have already been through what you are feeling.  The introduction will actually bring back memories with a flair of humor.

"Did you know that you can’t suffocate yourself by holding your breath? I tried."
Jump on today - add your comments, your two cents and you can learn from others.  The best part is you realize you are not alone and some of what you are going through you will make you chuckle years from now.

Being a healthy and happy parent helps you to be a better parent to your kids.

Read more.

Parenting Girls both Teens and Tweens

The PINK Locker Society is launched and tweens are talking about it!  Many are  thrilled to have a website that answers many questions and feelings that are difficult or sensitive to talk about.


From creating your Dream Locker with an interactive pop-up, to answering questions about your boy crushes or what to wear, The PINK Locker Society is fun, educational and offers a vast amount of information to help girls go from tween-hood into teen-hood.

Some of the most popular questions that are asked and answers are questions about getting their periods, boy crushes, and breast issues. As a parent, may have talked to their tweens about these sensitive subjects, however having a group of peer to talk to can really help understand they are not alone.  Let’s face it, this is a trying time for them and being able to see others (their peers) are struggling too helps them see their questions are not stupid.

Let’s get cooking! The PINK Locker Society also offers recipes for your girls to create and make.  Helping your daughter build her self-esteem is a major part of growing up and making good choices.

If you have a tween, get ready for the launching of The PINK Locker Society book that will be released September 14th.  Click here to pre-order today!

Be an educated parent, you will have healthier teens!

Read more.

iMOM: Become one today!

Inspiration, ideas, insights, information and more are all part of being an iMOM. From preschool to prom,  you will find valuable articles and tips for helping you be a better parent.

About iMOM:


iMOM is the newest program of Family First and the complement to the organization’s popular All Pro Dad fatherhood program. iMOM’s unique focus is to equip mothers with information, ideas and encouragement to positively impact their children in the following areas:

• Wisdom: Wisdom enables us to make good decisions in life. Without wisdom, a child is likely to make bad choices and suffer the consequences for those choices with potentially increasing regularity.

• Health: A healthy lifestyle is an important factor in a child’s life. How a child treats his or her body has a direct impact on how he or she grows physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

• Purpose: Without parental direction about life’s purpose, children will seek out answers for themselves. Often these answers will come from other youth and may not reflect a healthy, productive lifestyle.

• Relationships: Good relationship skills are essential. This skill development begins at birth through a child’s attachment to his or her mother. Without the ability to form and sustain lasting relationships, whether personal or professional, a child will struggle to find lasting joy and productivity in life.

The iMOM program is run by a team of moms, who have children ranging in ages from 3 to 21 and we understand everything you have to do as a mom. Their desire is to help meet your needs by providing you access to everything we have learned and are learning. iMOM is working for you, so you can do everything a mom does – only better.

Learn more at www.iMOM.com.

Remember, put family first!

Be an educated parent, you will have safer and healthier teens!

Read more and watch video.

Defiant, Disrespectful Adolescents: Parenting at your Wit's End

Teen Anger, Teen Rage combined, at times, with Teen Violence, is on the rise with the lack of respect teens are showing their parents as well as authority. 

"I don't care what you say I am doing what I want to do! I hate you and you just don't want me to have fun!" "All my friends are allowed to stay out late; you are mean and want to ruin my life!" "You have no idea how I feel and you are only making it worse!"

When a difficult teen is out of control, they only can hear themselves and what they want. It is usually their way or no way! There are so many factors that can contribute to these feelings. The feelings are very real and should be addressed as soon as you see that your child is starting to run the household. Teen Anger may lead to Teen Rage and Teen Violence which can soon destroy a family.

Again, local therapist can help your family diagnosis what is causing the negative behavior patterns. Conduct Disorder is one of the many causes to harmful behavior. Many times you will find a need for a positive and safe program to help the teen realize where these hurtful outbursts are stemming from. Parents tell us constantly, they are looking for a "Boot Camp" to achieve their mission to make their child "pay" for the pain they are putting the family through. In some cases this can create a Violent Teen.

Parents' Universal Resource Experts feel that when you place a negative child into a negative atmosphere, most children only gain resentment and more anger. There are some cases that it has been effective; however we do not refer to any Boot Camps. We believe in a Positive Peer Culture for teen help to build your child back up from the helplessness they feel.

If you feel your teen is in need of further Boarding School, Residential Therapy, Military Schools or Program Options, please complete our Information Request Form.


Lear more at www.helpyourteens.com.

Teens Dealing with Grief - Losing a Loved One

Death is part of living, however the shock of a young person dying suddenly and parents realizing they are burying their child, is devastating.

15 year-old McKenzie Wilson died on Tuesday suddenly. She was a Bolles School student entering her sophomore year and is reported her sudden death involved inflammation around the brain.
A Pray for McKenzie Wilson Facebook group for Wilson already over 800 members, many sending messages to Wilson and her family, like one who called McKenzie an "inspiration to many" and another describing her as a "a gorgeous girl inside and out."

McKenzie Wilson was a softball player and cheerleader as well as active in the fellowship of Christian Athletes.  On Tuesday evening there was a vigil at Bolles School where many friends, family and the community expressed their loss, love and memories.

There will be counselors available at Bolles School in Jacksonville next week as school begins.

KidsHealth for Teens offers tips to help teens deal with grief:

• Remember that grief is a normal emotion. Know that you can (and will) heal over time.
•  Participate in rituals. Memorial services, funerals, and other traditions help people get through the first few days and honor the person who died.
• Be with others. Even informal gatherings of family and friends bring a sense of support and help people not to feel so isolated in the first days and weeks of their grief.
• Talk about it when you can. Some people find it helpful to tell the story of their loss or talk about their feelings. Sometimes a person doesn't feel like talking, and that's OK, too. No one should feel pressured to talk.
• Express yourself. Even if you don't feel like talking, find ways to express your emotions and thoughts. Start writing in a journal about the memories you have of the person you lost and how you're feeling since the loss. Or write a song, poem, or tribute about your loved one. You can do this privately or share it with others.
•  Exercise. Exercise can help your mood. It may be hard to get motivated, so modify your usual routine if you need to.
• Eat right. You may feel like skipping meals or you may not feel hungry, but your body still needs nutritious foods.
• Join a support group. If you think you may be interested in attending a support group, ask an adult or school counselor about how to become involved. The thing to remember is that you don't have to be alone with your feelings or your pain.
• Let your emotions be expressed and released. Don't stop yourself from having a good cry if you feel one coming on. Don't worry if listening to particular songs or doing other activities is painful because it brings back memories of the person that you lost; this is common. After a while, it becomes less painful.
•  Create a memorial or tribute. Plant a tree or garden, or memorialize the person in some fitting way, such as running in a charity run or walk (a breast cancer race, for example) in honor of the lost loved one.

Many prayers and support to her family and friends.

Read more.

Teen Lingo - Teen Chat Decoder: What is Your Teen Saying?

There is nothing wrong with admitting there is no way we actually know all the teen lingo and the acronyms they use.  However it is very smart to keep a few websites handy for when you are in doubt or concerned about a text or IM that you can't figure out.

Teen Chat Decoder is an excellent website that not only has lists of acronyms and abbreviations, it has a search box you can type your questionable word/acronym in and it will give you the meaning.

As parents, when our kids started to use the Internet more and more, we did what any good parent would do – we monitored their online activity.

We reviewed their browser history, or some parental control software product like PC Tattletale. But it was really frustrating when we found that our kids used abbreviations and acronyms in when chatting online or via their cell phones.

Now some acronyms are pretty easy to figure out, like “LOL” (Laugh Out Loud), but many made no sense at all – unless you were 15!

So several years ago we put together what would eventually become the largest “Teen Acronym Only” database on the net. Teen Chat Decoder was designed to help parents understand what their kids were “really” saying online and to help keep them safe.

As schools will be opening soon, get a step ahead - learn more about Internet and texting lingo.

Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens!

Read more.

iMOM - Get in the know, join today for free

There are many online communities that have fantastic information and resources for parents.  iMOM is definitely on the top of this list. 
 
Whether you are considering daycare centers or stumbling through that adolescent stage, iMOM has a vast amount of resources to inspire you to be a better parent.

iMOM is the newest program of Family First and the complement to the organization’s popular All Pro Dad fatherhood program.

The iMOM program will provide information, ideas and encouragement to mothers where and when they need it – and from noted experts in a variety of specialties concerning childhood development and parenting. iMOM delivers their research and tools through the following resources:

• iMOM.com is a clean, inviting space for mothers to visit daily at their own convenience. The website is a library of parenting information arranged by relevancy to their child’s age and by topic. Specialists will be featured weekly as well as expert advice on breaking research and news. iMom.com strives to be your “Technological cup of coffee” – a place you go to daily for soothing and stimulating refreshment.

• Espresso Minute, a free daily e-mail, is a quick shot of parenting advice delivered Monday through Friday encouraging mothers to focus on one of the many facets of being a mom each day. The Espresso Minute will include a call to action that will help a mother build her parenting skills.

• Drive-Time CDs are a parenting tool designed for the busy mother who is often in the car. Each CD covers a parenting topic and each topic is broken down into 5 to 10-minute segments that can be listened to while carpooling, running errands or gong to work.

• Pillow Talk and Pillow Talk Tonight are for the mother who desires to pursue the heart of her child and develop a close and trusting relationship. Pillow Talk is a creative journal that leads a mother through the process of opening lines of communication with her child. The journal is interactive and used by both the mother and the child, with the suggestion of trading the journal back and forth by leaving it on the other’s pillow before bed.

• iMOM Mornings are school-based breakfasts designed to bring mothers and children together for support and inspiration. Meetings may incorporate a live speaker, a relevant topic, questions for group discussion and practice skills to take home.

Sign up today to keep up with raising our children in a safe and healthy environment.

Follow iMOM’s on Twitter and join them on Facebook.

Watch video and read more.

Teen Help: Dad's Getting Involved - Making A Difference

School is opening soon and parents are scrambling to get school supplies, uniforms books and other things needed to start off the school year. There is one item you can’t forget, that is yourself!
 
Did you know by just showing up can make a world of difference to a child?

Parent involvement has a positive impact on their child’s academic and social life in school. It can be difficult with many single parent households or parents that are working more than one job to make ends meet, but your child’s school should be high on your priority list. Even if you can only volunteer an hour a month, it makes a difference.

Traditionally mothers are the ones getting involved with their child’s school and community; this needs to change. Fathers are needed and wanted! More and more dads are getting involved and finding the time to make a difference their child’s life.

All Pro Dad’s is a simple idea with a profound impact. It’s a one-hour monthly breakfast held before school where fathers and their children meet with other dads and kids in the school cafeteria or a local restaurant. During this time, they discuss a wide range of family topics, spend time together, create fun memories, and are equipped with resources to strengthen their relationship. For more about All Pro Dad’s, please watch the short video here.

Is your community or school participating in All Pro Dad’s? Find a chapter near you, click here. Remember, family first!

Meet your team captain here.

Read more.

Huffing AC Refrigerant Kills! Teens and Inhalant Abuse

Inhalants.  They have been in the news and on the teen scene for years now; as a matter of fact, it was reported that there has been a 158% increase in the use of  huffing refrigerant in teenagers.

Most parents will continue to say, 'not my teen', however how do you really know it isn't your teen?

Just ask Mona Casey in Coral Springs, she lost her son 15 year-old Charles Gray just before his 16th birthday, when he inhaled refrigerant.  Especially in Florida, air conditioning refrigerant is prevalent, it is also deadly.  Watch video to see how dangerous it can be.

Throughout her grief, Mona Casey founded a group, United Parents to Restrict Open Access to Refrigerant, (UPROAR).  Huffing chemicals such as refrigerant can result in death on the first use. This is a risk we cannot afford to take with our children. One of the goals of UPROAR is to propose solutions to lawmakers and governing bodies to address this problem.

What is inhalant use?


Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors with the purpose of reaching a high. Inhalants are legal, everyday products which have a useful purpose, but can be misused. You're probably familiar with many of these substances -- paint, glue and others. But you probably don't know that there are more than 1,000 products that are very dangerous when inhaled -- things like typewriter correction fluid, air-conditioning refrigerant, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane and even cooking spray. See Products Abused as Inhalants for more details.

It is time parents stop being ignorant to the fact teens and tweens don't understand the dangers of huffing.  Kids as young as 11 years-old are huffing and dying.  Watch video.

Talk to your kids today!  School will be opening, peer pressure will be starting, school hallways are full of kids trying to fit in and be cool.  Will they take it a step further fit in with a sniff?

Sources: Just News, UPROAR, Inhalants.org

Be an educated parent, you can save a life!


Watch video and read more.

Struggling teens, teen help, tough love and parenting

Parenting adolescents today has become more of a challenge than a joy with many families.  Not all, thankfully, but there are more issues surrounding peer pressure, bullying, social media, music, movies and other influences that can cause a negative environment.

• Drug use: Huffing, inhalants, sniffing, smoking pot
• Alcohol use: Underage drinking, supervised drinking
• Defiance: Blatant disrespect, especially towards parents
• Disengaged: No longer wanting to participate in family activities
• Change of peer group:  Choosing friends that are not a good influence

Obviously this list could go on and on as more and more teenagers are engaging in harmful or dangerous activities.

Is your teen reaching a level that he/she are out-of-control? Going down a negative path with only a few years left of high school? Do you fear for their future if they continue down this road?

Typical teenage behavior, which much of it can be, however what happens when this typical behavior lands them in juvie? Or in the hospital with an overdose?

Most have tried therapists. Most have even tried out-patient programs. Some have tried sending their teen to a relatives to live. What happens when these attempts fail?

For many, it is time for residential therapy. Now you really need to be engaged, do your homework and be extremely cautious. The world of teen-help is a big business and they are waiting for parents that are at their wit's end to call!

There are many good programs in our country. The most important decision you will make is choosing the right one for your child. Don't rely on marketing arms, toll-free numbers, and spams of email promises. Do your due diligence and work through this process in the best interest of your family.

Visit www.helpyourteens.com for helpful hints and tips for finding what is best for your family. Remember, if you are on the East Coast (Florida or other states), just because the Internet seems to continue to point you to the West Coast, there are programs on the East Coast that are extremely high quality - and some of the best. Although you don't want the school/program in your backyard, you also don't want to be so far away that visiting them would be difficult.

For more detailed information pick up Wit's End: Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out-of-Control Teen - it could save your teenager today! By visiting Parents' Universal Resource Experts (PURE) you can receive a free chapter here.
World renown Parenting Expert and TODAY Show Contributor, Dr. Michele Borba, wrote recently about PURE and Wit's End, click here.

Remember, be a parent first - friendship will come in time. This is not about shipping your teen off, it is about giving them a second opportunity at a bright future!

Parents' Universal Resource Experts (PURE) is a Member of the Better Business Bureau.

For over a decade, PURE has helped thousands of families!

Watch slideshow and read more.

Sue Scheff: Teaching Diversity - Connect Your Family to the World

As a parent, it is important to educate your children about diversity, teaching them to respect and understand other countries and their cultures and customs. Well how would you like to get involved with an organization that builds bonds of friendship and trust with the power to change the world too?

Welcoming a high school foreign exchange student into your home is a great way to increase global awareness for your family, your schools and even across your community.

This month, EF Foundation for Foreign Study is looking for host families for the 2010-2011 school year.  South Florida is a melting pot with many families from all over the world.  It’s wonderful to think that by being a host family, you’d not only be learning about another culture in which you may not be too familiar with, but you’d also be creating a positive view of the United States that crosses oceans and lasts a lifetime.
EF Foundation has:

• Connected over 100,000 talented, enthusiastic students from 30 countries with caring host families across America
• Been facilitating foreign exchange for more than 30 years.
• Connected more students with American host families than any other program of its kind!

Want to hear firsthand how this program has changed lives?

Watch video and read more.

Learn more, contact EF Foundation here.