Here's why you DO NOT need to throw an expensive graduation party. If you have a high school senior, right about now you’re probably experiencing two kinds of thoughts. The first is, “How did high school go by so fast?” And the second is, “Why did nobody tell me how EXPENSIVE having a senior is?” Although we all knew graduation day was inevitable (and we’ve been preparing emotionally for it all year long), it goes unspoken how much expense is involved in graduating a high schooler, and ... View the Post
Public State Universities Are Also “DREAM SCHOOLS,” Here’s Why
Large public universities are dream schools for many. (Michael Gordon/Shutterstock) It’s college acceptance season! Right now congratulatory emails are flooding inboxes across the country and relieved high school seniors and proud, yet nervous parents are now facing the reality of a dream they’ve been working towards for years. But for thousands of seniors with hopes of gaining acceptance into their “dream” school, this time of year can also be a brutally cruel one, because among the ... View the Post
Let Your Teens Choose Their College Major, It’s Their Future, Not Yours
Let you college kids choose their own college major (Artem Kalashnikov/Shutterstock) Plans. Plans. Plans! Oh the plans WE have for OUR kids! So. Many. Plans!! WE planned and decided on infant care. WE planned and decided on preschool. WE planned and decided on elementary, middle, and high schools. WE planned and decided on So. Many. Things! As parents, we spent 18 years planning, contemplating, weighing, discussing, and deciding on a million little ... View the Post
New Smartphone Apps May Be Able to Detect Depression Symptoms in Teens
(Mindmo/Shutterstock)[/caption] Today’s technology can do some amazing things, and in some cases, one of those amazing things it can do can include saving a life. Case in point; over the last few years, several Apple Watch wearers have found themselves being alerted by their watch (without prompting) that something wasn't right with their heartbeat rhythms. The watches, which are capable of recording and noticing changes in regular rhythms, sent their users an alert when beats seemed off or ... View the Post
More Sleep, More Exercise, and Less Screen Time. Why Your Teen’s Health Depends on More of Some and Less of Others
Nothing would get me angrier than when my teenagers would sleep until 2 p.m. on the weekends. That is, when they didn’t have to be force overachieving and resume building at some sports, work, youth group, or volunteer project. As they snoozed well into the afternoon, I thought, “How can anyone sleep for 18 hours straight?” Turns out every teen parent I know was asking themselves that same question, and while we may have been annoyed at our marathon slumbering teens, truth is, our kids ... View the Post
Colleges Are Teaching Students How to Drink Responsibly. Why This is a Good Thing
My son is a college junior and dormitory resident assistant. Periodically, he is required to host and teach educational forums and events for the freshman residents on his floor. He recently shared on social media pictures of his latest event, which was him teaching and providing resources on how to drink safely and responsibly. I gasped when I saw this post. My son is literally teaching underage students how to drink? I assumed when and if the university housing department sees this, surely he ... View the Post