Parenting Styles & the Characteristics of Teens
The other day, my husband and went window shopping for new furniture to put in the front room of our house. Of course, what seems like a fairly easy task turned into a much more complicated ordeal. Do we get leather, microfiber, or suede? Do we want a pattern or solid color? What color? How many pillows do we want on the couch? Do we want a big, deep chair or small chair? The list goes on and on…. I realized that while we share very similar tastes, our idea of the “perfect” set-up for the front room was very different! It made me think about parenting teens, and the fact that we don’t always agree on how to parent our teens either!
As individuals, we are never surprised by the fact that people have different styles in clothing, couches and house colors. Yet, for some reason, we are surprised when people do not parent the way we would parent. Why is that? In many ways, it is because we come to parenting with strong ideas and beliefs about what it takes to be a “good” parent. There are some immediate pitfalls to this. First, there is an underlying judgement. In my experience, judging another parent often results in facing a similar dilemma. Second, there
Read MoreNurture Your Network – 2 Minute Tip for Parenting Teens #162
You never know when you are going to need help. You may need help in a small way… “May I borrow some eggs? Will you keep my dog while we are out for the day? Can you water the plants while we are away?” Or you may need help in a big way when a crisis looms. And it’s a lot easier to ask for help when your contacts are fresh and know you fairly well.
Don was fearful that his son Greg was experimenting with drugs. Greg had begun hanging out with some older kids when he had had a sports injury in the previous soccer season. Don works long hours and is a single parent, and he didn’t know Greg’s new friends or their families.
Read MoreIt’s Not Your Mother’s PTA
"I believe beauty is stepping outside of your comfort zone. Hayden held the wild snake without fear." Jessica L., Pembroke Pines, FL
This photo is one of the winning entries in the PTA’s national “Reflections” program. Think the PTA just runs bake sales and fund raisers? Think again… they inspire and teach kids, give them opportunities to be recognized nationally, and they support families, empowering them to become more involved in their child’s education.
I sat down with Erin Hart, Director of Strategic Alliances, Partnerships and Programs at the National PTA to learn more about the programs the PTA offers. Their goal is to offer meaningful activities that are systemic – not one time events. The PTA’s broad and collaborative structure enables them to offer programs that are effective locally and nationally. They have the resources to make materials developed by national experts available at the local level, and to bring local programs far beyond the walls of a single school.
The PTA has three major initiatives: Arts, Family Engagement, and Health and Wellness.
ARTS:
"Each culture around the world has their own perspective on what beauty is." Omar B., Orlando, FL
The Reflections program that began 40 years ago challenges students to create art focused around a new theme each year. There are six artistic categories in which students submit their entries to their local PTA: photography, visual arts, literature, musical composition, dance choreography and film production. The winning entries are elevated to regional, then state, then national competitions. The two examples I have included here are winners in the competition with the theme “Beauty is….” The PTA says “When children express themselves through words, pictures, music, dance, and other art forms, they grow intellectually and socially. They learn to analyze their thoughts, feelings, and ideas;
Read MoreLet’s Reflect on the Preciousness of Fathers – 2 Minute Tip #161
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In a birthday card to his Dad, my 26 year old son wrote a special note: “I’ve had a good teacher, Dad, and I’m living the life you taught me to live.” My husband still carries that card with him, he cherishes it so. That ‘teaching” fathers offer tends not to be so much through words, but rather through actions and deeds. Another quote points this out: “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”(1)
The approach offered by fathers is a wonderful counterpoint to the natural tendencies of many mothers…
Read MoreIs the PTA Still Relevant?
There is only one answer to that question: unequivocally “YES!”
Everyone knows the PTA. But not everyone has a good understanding of why the PTA is important and what it does. While some communities have chosen to have their parent organizations remain independent of the PTA, I see some real advantages in connecting to this national organization. Having just spent several days at the PTA Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida, let me share what I have observed.
There is tremendous value in learning from your peers: The PTA Convention gathers leaders from around the country – thousands of them! Connecting with peers and interacting with PTA leaders enables valuable sharing of best practices, research, resources and more. Being independent may look attractive at first, but the benefits of being linked to a larger body are pretty compelling.
The PTA has power and is a respected authority: The PTA is recognized nationally and prides itself on being “a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.” As they fulfill this promise,
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