5 mins read

Smartphones and Kids: Worth the Wait

I grew up in the technology boom, fascinated by all the latest and greatest things from accessible cell phones to Friendster (totally dating myself) – and have loved every second of it. My personal and professional lives have been forever changed by the evolution of technology, and I’m thrilled that my kids will have access…

4 mins read

Body Image and Shopping With Your Teen

As New York’s fall Fashion Week closed down last week, parents nationwide wrapped up another September high-pressure fashion ritual: back to school shopping. Few parents would describe this particular custom as fun. But for those of us with plus-size kids, it can be especially excruciating. As parents, we want our kids to feel good about…

7 mins read

Should You Go to Jail If Your Teen Drinks?

The story I’m about to tell is not unusual. But it’s personal, tragic, and common, repeating itself almost every day throughout our country. We parents need to pay better attention. Three summers ago, a picture surfaced of then-candidate for Maryland governor, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, at a party attended by his teenaged son. The…

3 mins read

Why Your Kids Need To Get You A Gift This Holiday

At this time of year, ads for holiday gift giving barrage our TV’s, computers, newspapers, and our eardrums. Often, these reminders about the need to buy gifts or risk a bleak Christmas feel relentless. For most parents, December quickly becomes all about pleasing our children and chasing whatever they want/need/beg for. There’s one British mom…