Category Archives: parenting kids

Breaking the Chains of Domestic Violence

Earlier this year, running back Ray Rice knocked his then fiancé now wife, Janay Palmer, unconscious. And he received a two game suspension. Much after the fact, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell commented that failure to adequately address domestic violence should never be repeated. But I’m not holding my breath, because the language of violence has become commonplace in our society. If it’s possible to change the cultural dialogue, the first step is to bring a problem that thrives in secrecy to public attention. Surveillance tools, mobile devices and social media … Continue reading

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Joan and Melissa: Mother/Daughter Bonds

As a daughter, mother and therapist, I can attest to the complexity of these relationships. To some, an extremely close relationship represents bonding, to others enmeshment. According to the media, Joan and Melissa Rivers were not afraid to act out the drama between a mom expecting to have a lot of control and a daughter trying to set some limits. Melissa recalls an argument when she tells her mother that she’s an adult and wants to be respected. And Joan’s retort? “I know about your boundaries and choose not to acknowledge … Continue reading

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Why Technology is OK for Kids

We have just returned from a family vacation in Whistler, Canada.  Some days we took a gondola up the mountain and hiked trails to streams and waterfalls. Others we biked around the countryside to swim in local lakes. With five active grandsons ages 8-13 and their forty-something parents, we had plenty of exercise and physical challenge. Yet whenever we returned from our adventures, the main pull for the boys was their electronic devices. And a typical parental request? Please turn that off and go outside or play a game. I often … Continue reading

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Virtual book tour with Len Filppu

We’re pleased to welcome Len Filppu to our blog today for a Virtual Book Tour. Len is the author of Prime Time Dads: 45 Reasons to Embrace Midlife Fatherhood, a parenting book filled with a collection of his humorous and heartfelt essays. They support his radical notion that mature men are well-suited for fatherhood, and that rather than being just ‘better late than never,’ midlife fatherhood can actually be better later. Len is a writer/screenwriter who’s worked in Silicon Valley and on Capitol Hill, but he says the best thing … Continue reading

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