In a recent column I described how some parents verbally challenge their child to do the opposite of what they want.. This is training a child to defy. Bribes and threats also are ineffective as they empower a child to choose a reward when bribed, or say “I don’t care” when threatened.
More than 50 percent of first marriages dissolve in divorce. With a 60 percent failure rate, second marriages are no better. Can marital longevity and happiness truly co-exist?
Learning disabilities are not “outgrown” and can affect a person throughout his or her life, hampering academic and then career success. The good news is help is available, and the sooner a child gets assistance, the better. The first step is realizing there’s a problem.
Recent reports of bullying and its effects on the children involved are enough to put parents on full alert. Long identified by name-calling and teasing, technology puts a new spin on this old problem for children of all ages.
Doing homework is one of a student’s most dreaded activities and often one of a parent’s great challenges. With some guidance, however, you can help your child develop a lifetime of good learning habits
Bicyclists should obey the rules of the road and drive defensively to avoid accidents.
This week’s suggestions: Check out “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” or “Dinner for Schmucks,” celebrate Cheesecake Day, celebrate J.K. Rowling and all things Harry Potter, observe National Clown Week and get ready for International Beer Day.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on when to buy a house and being in debt to family members.
Five kids, one boyfriend (my daughter’s, not mine!) and one husband stuffed in the truck for a long road trip sounds like a recipe for disaster. With heavy doses of laughter, we survived the chaos of sharing close quarters with teens and toddlers.
Weekly family column, with shopping tips to save big on back-to-school supplies, a review of “Ramona and Beezus” and more.
Melissa and Robert Amos of Uniontown, Ohio, could have spent thousands of dollars on their wedding. They spent $20.
The hot summer months offer loads of opportunity to save on groceries and eat healthy at the same time. With backyard gardens in full bloom, lots of fruits and veggies in season and on sale and less of a need for heavy comfort-style meals, keeping it light has never been easier. Check out these favorite original recipes from the folks at the food blog Cheap Healthy Good.
Sometimes, there's not much you can do to make your child feel better after a thorough pounding on the ballfield.
Is your child resistant to your requests or directives? Do you feel like your child is controlling the house? Is he saying or doing inappropriate things? You may be training him to do just that.
Even uncooperative weather couldn’t sap the fun factor from our July vacation at Boyne Mountain resort. In fact, there were so many things to do, it was hard to fit them all in during our July trip up north. There were ziplines and sunset chairlift rides, beaches and outdoor pools -- and a water park and spa treatments when it rained. During our three-day stay, our family still didn’t squeeze in kayaking, tennis, golf, or mountain biking.
This week’s suggestions: Head to the theater for “Ramona and Beezus” or “Salt,” keep tabs on Comic-Con, watch the end of the Tour de France and celebrate Family Golf Month and National Tell An Old Joke Day.
Weekly financial Q&A, with advice on starting a small business on the side and when to get long-term-care insurance.
Parents who have adopted special needs children say learning what is required beforehand, and assessing whether a family can handle a child who has medical or psychological problems, can make the process easier. And when the right family is matched with a child, the rewards can be immeasurable.
Weekly family column, with tips on back-to-school shoe shopping, a review of “The Sorcerer's Apprentice” and more.
The Konrads recently completed a 17-day, 3,400-mile vacation by car. That meant a lot of time to think about the good, the bad and the ugly as we went from Eastern Connecticut all the way to Key West, Fla., and back. Here are some tips for you. You don’t have to drive that far to take advantage of the wisdom I learned.
