Blog
Parenting Can Be a Real Bear: Authoritarian, Permissive, and Authoritative Parenting Approaches
Parenting can be a real bear sometimes. When it comes to navigating rough patches, studies show that some parental responses are more effective than others. Experts have determined three different parenting approaches: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative, and...
A Professional Transition That Has Me Feeling Like a Teen
I'm in the middle of a big professional change that can be summarized in a one word: Transition. Transitions, while potentially exciting, are also a time of unsteadiness, uncertainty, and unfinished business. Big changes on the professional horizon Last week, I let...
New Year’s Resolution
I tend not to make a New Year’s resolution, in part because, as an educator, my “year” has started in August and ended in June for the past four decades. Thus, January is often more of a midpoint for me than it is a beginning. That said, over the past couple...
Parent Language MATTERS
WHY TO AVOID "WHY" QUESTIONS WITH YOUR TEEN When it comes to making requests and inquiries of their teens, parent language matters–a lot. With my parent coaching clients, we do a lot of examining of the language, tone, and timing around parent-child...
Raising an Anxious Teen
If you are raising an anxious teen, first, my heart goes out to you. Parenting anxious kids requires one of the finest balancing acts in that parents must constantly ask themselves “Does my child need comfort or pushing in this moment?” “Should I...
I Dropped My Kid at College, and I’m Pretty Stinkin’ Happy About It.
I have a confession to make. I dropped my kid at college, and I’m pretty stinkin’ happy about it. Last week, I dropped my oldest off at college. In the days leading up to the drop-off and throughout the day-of, friends kept checking in with me to ask how I was holding...
Talking About Teen Stress: Does Your Child’s Cup Runneth Over?
September is almost here, bringing with it the promise of a new beginning in the form a new school year. But with new beginnings also come transitions. And with transitions, even happy ones, stress is usually lurking nearby. It's a lot to balance as students adjust to...
Parents Need Support Too!
by Samantha Straub When your child has a setback, remember that, often, parents need support, too! It hurts to watch your kid struggle. When they are treated poorly by others, feel misunderstood, get left out, don’t make the team, aren’t admitted, or experience most...
You Are Not Raising a Jerk, Despite Poor Teen Behavior At Home
by Samantha Straub Parents often worry that the poor teen behavior we see at home is the same stuff our kids show the world when we’re not around. Generally, however, that’s not the case. They save their ugly for home. On the road (i.e. at school, at friends’...
Why is My Totally Likable Teen Struggling to Keep Friends?
By Samantha Straub A mom of a totally likeable, down-to-Earth kid calls the school counseling office, worried. “My daughter’s friends seem to be ditching her,” the mom tells me. “She sees photos on Snapchat and Instagram of their parties, but she’s not...
Parenting Can Be a Real Bear: Authoritarian, Permissive, and Authoritative Parenting Approaches
Parenting can be a real bear sometimes. When it comes to navigating rough patches, studies show that some parental responses are more effective than others. Experts have determined three different parenting approaches: authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative, and...
A Professional Transition That Has Me Feeling Like a Teen
I'm in the middle of a big professional change that can be summarized in a one word: Transition. Transitions, while potentially exciting, are also a time of unsteadiness, uncertainty, and unfinished business. Big changes on the professional horizon Last week, I let...
New Year’s Resolution
I tend not to make a New Year’s resolution, in part because, as an educator, my “year” has started in August and ended in June for the past four decades. Thus, January is often more of a midpoint for me than it is a beginning. That said, over the past couple...
Parent Language MATTERS
WHY TO AVOID "WHY" QUESTIONS WITH YOUR TEEN When it comes to making requests and inquiries of their teens, parent language matters–a lot. With my parent coaching clients, we do a lot of examining of the language, tone, and timing around parent-child...
Raising an Anxious Teen
If you are raising an anxious teen, first, my heart goes out to you. Parenting anxious kids requires one of the finest balancing acts in that parents must constantly ask themselves “Does my child need comfort or pushing in this moment?” “Should I...
I Dropped My Kid at College, and I’m Pretty Stinkin’ Happy About It.
I have a confession to make. I dropped my kid at college, and I’m pretty stinkin’ happy about it. Last week, I dropped my oldest off at college. In the days leading up to the drop-off and throughout the day-of, friends kept checking in with me to ask how I was holding...
Talking About Teen Stress: Does Your Child’s Cup Runneth Over?
September is almost here, bringing with it the promise of a new beginning in the form a new school year. But with new beginnings also come transitions. And with transitions, even happy ones, stress is usually lurking nearby. It's a lot to balance as students adjust to...
Parents Need Support Too!
by Samantha Straub When your child has a setback, remember that, often, parents need support, too! It hurts to watch your kid struggle. When they are treated poorly by others, feel misunderstood, get left out, don’t make the team, aren’t admitted, or experience most...
You Are Not Raising a Jerk, Despite Poor Teen Behavior At Home
by Samantha Straub Parents often worry that the poor teen behavior we see at home is the same stuff our kids show the world when we’re not around. Generally, however, that’s not the case. They save their ugly for home. On the road (i.e. at school, at friends’...
Why is My Totally Likable Teen Struggling to Keep Friends?
By Samantha Straub A mom of a totally likeable, down-to-Earth kid calls the school counseling office, worried. “My daughter’s friends seem to be ditching her,” the mom tells me. “She sees photos on Snapchat and Instagram of their parties, but she’s not...










