by Bonnie Harris | Jun 20, 2023 | Activities, Communication, Confident Parents, Empathy, Everyday living, Everyday Parenting, Expectations, Questions and Answers, Screentime, Teens
Q. My son is 11 and an only child. His first reaction to everything is negative, a sigh, makes a face and moans. This is the reaction to every meal (even stuff he likes), an outing he likes or even just being asked to watch tv with us. When we try to do fun family...
by Bonnie Harris | May 24, 2023 | Activities, Anger Management, Coaching & Counseling, Confident Parents, Everyday living, Everyday Parenting, Teens
I often read Meghan Leahy’s advice in her column On Parenting for The Washington Post. I saw this headline, How do I connect with my teen son while respecting his independence, and had to read what she would say to this mom. After all, this is totally my wheelhouse....
by Bonnie Harris | Apr 18, 2023 | Anger Management, Anxiety, Communication, Confident Parents, Discipline, Empathy, Everyday living, Everyday Parenting, Mental Health, Questions and Answers
Q. My 8 year old son is constantly talking back to me and using vulgar language. I tell him that is not acceptable, and he keeps doing it. He argues and doesn’t listen to authority—my authority anyway. He’s fine at school. Teachers love him. When I was young, I would...
by Bonnie Harris | Mar 23, 2023 | Anxiety, Bullying, Communication, Confident Parents, Everyday Parenting, Mental Health, Questions and Answers, School
Q. Ines, 8, is a very sweet playing, sporty, capable but gentle friend. On the playground one of her better friends at school is starting to bully her. Tonight she was crying as the girl was telling her to go into a dark shed in the playground. Ines said she didn’t...
by Bonnie Harris | Feb 21, 2023 | Confident Parents, Everyday Parenting, Teens
Q. I’ve been a long time subscriber and benefitted on how to handle parenting issues mostly when my kids were very young. Now my son has turned 18 and feels entitled to stay out as long as he wants. For me and my husband, we still think that house rules apply but I’m...
by Bonnie Harris | Jan 24, 2023 | Coaching & Counseling, Communication, Confident Parents, Empathy, Everyday living, Everyday Parenting, Mental Health, Questions and Answers, Teens
Q. I have enjoyed reading many things on your website. My husband and I are the owners of 1 integrity child and 1 harmony child. The first makes me nearly lose my mind as I am an integrity person as well. My question is how do you help them understand that the world...