Have you ever thought about using creativity to improve your relationship with your teenager? Sometimes, as parents, we need to throw away the rule book, trust our instincts and just parent from the heart.

This post is not going to be what you think. I recently finished the biography on Steve Jobs. It was a fascinating 656 pages that I had a hard time putting down. Yes, Steve Jobs was obsessed with his work and often neglected his role as a father to his children. However, here are a couple of things that I learned from his story.

What if there was a way to improve you and your teen’s mood, reduce chances of heart disease and cancer, and create a meaningful connection with them, all at the same time? Good news, there is! And it’s as simple as taking a walk.

It can be tough to create and maintain a strong connection to the teens or tweens in your life.  Whether you are a parent, teacher, relative or close adult friend to a teenager, I hope you find this post helpful and thought-provoking. 

I have a wonderfully practical tip for you that you can use today. School is now officially in full swing. Your teenager may be loving life or just barely surviving. Either way, this may be a daily challenge for you. Yes, I am talking about the after school conversation. You haven't seen each other all day and you may be the first one to make contact.

When I was a kid the cartoons and video games were always violent, but they seemed so benign. However, times have changed. Modern games are incredibly realistic, more violent than ever and they capture the imagination of our young people like nothing else. The effects of violent video games is a hotly debated issue, both among parents and researchers. In this blog post I am going to give you the highlights of the issue and most importantly provide some practical advice for you and your family. 

Do you ever feel like your teenager is so irritating that you might just lose your mind? Maybe you are barely maintaining control. You are so close to saying or doing something that you will likely regret. Sometimes you successfully calm yourself down, but other times you totally lose it. In this post I am talking about what to do when you get really, really mad at your son. You might think of it as kind of an anger management to-do list for parents.

Earlier this year I wrote a blog post called 5 Things To Do When You Find Out Your Son Is Smoking Pot. Teenage boys love marijuana. And, most parents are not happy about it at all. This may not come as a surprise to you. I know I did not have to look up any research studies to reach this conclusion. It is concerning on many levels, but have you ever stopped to consider why pot is so attractive to teens?

As parents, we naturally want what is best for our children. While wearing our hearts on our sleeve, we try to do our best. Worry, stress, and confusion likely began in early parenthood - maybe even before you laid eyes on your child. Anxiety around the launching phase is quite natural.

Adolescence is a super challenging time for teens and parents alike. No one is immune to the stress and heartache that is a part of your job description. I have a simple and encouraging message for you. We all need that sometimes right?