With the start of a new school year, college freshmen around the country have been attending workshops on safety, including how to protect themselves from unwanted sexual behaviors. Some of these lessons involve fundamental self-defense and common sense, some involve admonitions against excessive drinking and drug use, and some focus on helping potential victims avoid … Read more
Washington, D.C. was recently rated the “#1 Most Stressed Out City in America” by a real estate blog, which based its ratings on criteria including commute time, high cost of living, hours worked, and population density. Research suggests that high levels of stress have a negative impact on health and well-being, including fighting illness, thinking … Read more
There are over 30,000 suicides in the United States every year, making it the 10th leading cause of death for Americans (3rd among youth and 2nd among college students). We lose someone to suicide every 13 minutes, and 60% of us will personally know someone who dies by suicide. It is important to remember that … Read more
As parents, we strive to do the right things for our kids. Unfortunately, many of the things we do in an effort to meet their needs actually work against the real goal of parenting, which is to create an environment in which children can grow into motivated, mature, and independent human beings. Below are a … Read more
I recently read an interesting article in The New York Times about raising a moral child. The article, “Raising a Moral Child,” was written by Adam Grant, a professor of management and psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of “Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success.” The … Read more
Acknowledging your child’s positive behavior is the best way to keep that behavior going. Creating and keeping a behavior chart (a.k.a., “sticker chart” or “reward chart”) helps everyone in the family take the time to stop and recognize when the child is doing something right. Behavior charts also give the child clear goals, so that … Read more
As parents, we want our children to believe in themselves. A sense of appropriate confidence or self efficacy, the belief that one can handle what might come his or her way, makes navigating life’s inevitable challenges not only easier, but more fun and exciting. On the other hand, a lack of confidence or a poor … Read more
It is that bittersweet time of year when many young adults will be moving off to college. On one hand, it is a time for celebration, but on the other hand it can be difficult to say goodbye. In most circumstances, the goodbye is more of a “see ya later” as students often return home … Read more
Ahhhh, summer.…I can almost hear the collective sighs from adults and children alike as we anticipate the freedom and fun that await us in the coming months. For many of us, summer represents a (slightly) slower pace, more vacations, and time to relax and recharge. However, summer can also be an important time to maintain … Read more
In our romantic ideals, loving relationships are pictured as islands of peace, harmony, and joy, sheltering the couple from the hazards of the outside world. But anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows this is far from the truth. The hard fact is: couples disagree – sometimes rarely, sometimes often. Whether or not … Read more
