Helping children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety and anger.

Parenting Fatigue

Note to Readers: As I read the tips to find recovery from parenting fatigue, I realized that these important tips apply to parents at all stages of parenting. Just substitute the word toddlers for  teens and keep reading…you just may see yourself. I believe that when we honor and care for ourselves…we teach children self-love. Thanks to Ronae for sharing this with us.

by Ronae Jull 

If you’re the parent of a teenager, you know that over-the-top feeling of Parenting Fatigue. You’re exhausted from always working to keep tight boundaries, teaching important life lessons, and guarding against all those dangers you hope your teen never has to experience but are afraid they will. …Details and ORDERS »

Six Ways to Reduce Teen Stress

Note to Readers: The subject of teen stress grabbed my attention when I attended  my daughter’s High School orientation. The principal bragged to us that “This would be our teens most stressful year ever!” As a mom and stress expert,I was concerned for the wellness of the students  and wanted my own children to be prepared emotionally to handle such an onslaught of stress. …Details and ORDERS »

Teens and Drunk Driving

Note to Readers: Teens and drunk driving is a situation we as parents must do our best to prevent from happening. Drug and alcohol testing is a controversial subject, but I believe is using drug and alcohol testing as an empowering tool. Even the strongest most confident teen may find themselves in a situation where they will appreciate being able to say, “ I can’t drink, my mom and dad test me and I will get caught.” Introduce testing long before you suspect anything and explaining to them that you are doing it so that they can “blame their crazy parents” and you and your teens will be glad you did. Thanks to Cindy for sharing her tips to prepare our teens for the temptations of drinking. …Details and ORDERS »

Do “No Texting” Laws Really Have an Effect on Teens?

Note to Readers: Teen texting adds a whole new dimension to parenting. It is important for us to make rules and have consequences in place for breaking them. A parent is more likely to catch their teen driver texting than the law. Amy’s article makes me wonder, “What am I as a parent will to do to enforce the NO TEXTING Law?”

by Amy Kelly

Our teenagers text all the time.  When they’re eating breakfast, they’re texting.  When they’re walking down the hallways at school, they’re texting.  And when they should be interacting with friends and family outside their bedroom, they’re texting them instead. …Details and ORDERS »

To My Teen ~ Goodnight, I Love You…

Note to Reader: The American Psychological Association shows that teen stress has increased to epidemic levels and called it a medical health hazard. As parents, we severely underestimate the impact stress has on our teens. We mistakenly dismiss warning signs as “just being a teen.” The truth is that many of our teens do not have a healthy outlet to express or communicate their pent up emotions, stress, and fears. Diana’s article reminded me of the importance of connecting with teenagers and the power of  “Goodnight, I Love You..”

…Details and ORDERS »

Teenage Dream or Teen Stress?

My husband and I were sitting at high school orientation when the principal began to brag about the amount of stress our teens would experience as a freshman. Suddenly the teenage dream of going to High School…began to feel like a nightmare. I felt my stomach tighten and my husband squeezed my hand. My husband passed me a note that said, “Are they doing to teach them how to manage the stress?”
I grabbed a pen and wrote him back, “I will teach them.”   I knew then that while I had been helping children manage stress for the last decade, I needed to create a CD to help teens manage anxiety, stress, and anger. Indigo Teen Dreams was born in that moment. …Details and ORDERS »

Positive Statements For Girls Encourage Healthy Friendships!

Note to Readers: Girls Friendships cause much stress and anxiety for many tweens and teens. I found the middle school years to be particularly challenging for girls. Emotional bullying is everywhere and the lines of friendship are blurred by an effort to be popular or just plain old accepted! I love these positive statement put forth by Blair! Print this out and leave it on your daughters pillow… I know I am.

By Blair Wagner, CPCC, ACC

…Details and ORDERS »

Ten Simple Things to Do Every Single Day As A Parent of a Teenager

Note to Readers: As a mother of 3 teenagers, I found the advice and tips from Sue Atkins for parents of teenagers to be invaluable. Having the right tools can reduce the stress associated with parenting teens! Thank you Sue!

by Sue Atkins

I often coach parents of teenagers who feel they have stopped communicating without nagging, judging or criticizing.
So here are some practical ideas to keep the bridges of communication open between you and your teen. …Details and ORDERS »

Teens Stressful Friendships – Toxic or Stress Free

Note to Readers: Teen  years are stressful, with friendships ranking high on a teens lists of concerns. Stressful friendships are toxic to the entire family. One way to prevent your teenager from having negative, energy sucking, drama causing relationships, is to have an honest look at our own friendships. My formula for a stress free friendship is  EEE. Equal Energy Exchange. When I read the following steps from  Talking Teenage, I knew I had to share!

by Talking Teenage

Teens are hard-pressed to know when they should phase out a friendship. As parents, we must admit that we generally want our kids to phase out anyone who hurts their feelings even slightly. Well, we need to meet somewhere in the middle. …Details and ORDERS »

Eliminate Stress for You and Your Tween (or Teen)

By Lori Lite

Anxiety and stress with teenagers are at an all-time high for tweens. They are transitioning from child to teen and want to show us (parents) that they are nothing like us and they no longer need us in their lives. Tweens are bombarded with internal and external stressors. School, dating, peer pressure, technology, and hormones are just some of the factors that can cause tweens stress and anxieties. They feel awake when we think it is bedtime and in some cases need to be awake at extremely early hours. Time on the computer, phone, and in their rooms with the door closed, creates a disconnect with parents. Underneath it all they are scared, confused, and stressed. In many cases they may actually feel lonely and isolated. Being a tween today is unlike anything we have ever imagined or experienced. …Details and ORDERS »