Just a friendly reminder to all the parents of teens and emerging adults out there… Don’t forget to enjoy your kids! Don’t make all of your interactions about reminders and serious discussions about the future. Balance it by spending enjoyable quality time with them and celebrating what they’re doing right! At the very least,you want to aim for a ratio of 1 negative interaction to every 10-12 positive interactions. Continue reading
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What to do When Your College Kid Texts You Too Much
We often focus a lot on parents needing to learn to let go when their kid goes off to college. But what do you do when it’s your college kid that seems to be struggling to let go? They may be texting and calling 10-20 times a day.
I talk about two things to keep in mind when this situation occurs (and it’s bothering or concerning you). Continue reading
Frequently Asked Questions about FERPA
Chances are, you’ve spoken to your teen’s teachers or school administrator at least once. More likely, you’ve probably communicated with your teen’s school numerous times over the years. You’re used to being in the loop. That’s why so many parents are shocked when they learn that they have no access to your college kid’s academic records. Colleges are subject to a federal law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA sets privacy standards for student educational records and information. Now that your child is an adult in the eyes of the law, FERPA protects their privacy from everyone… including you!
FERPA can be a confusing concept for parents. So hopefully this list of frequently asked questions will help you navigate what you can and cannot access. Continue reading
7 Ways to Encourage Your Teen to Go to Therapy
Parents often ask me how they can convince their teenager or emerging adult to go to therapy. Before broaching the idea with your child, first reflect on if it’s necessary to convince them to attend therapy. If the answer is yes, here are seven tips that may help you get your child’s foot in the door.
Giving Reminders, Without Ruining Your Relationship with Your Child
Too often, parents’ reminders to their teens and emerging adults are met with eye rolls, exasperated sighs, and frustration. If you keep these five things in mind, you’re more likely to keep your positive relationship with your child intact… even while giving those necessary reminders! Continue reading
Teaching Medication Management to Your College-Bound Teen
For college-bound kids who take medication, medication management is of paramount importance. All too often I’ve seen college students struggle because they inconsistently take their medications or run out of their meds. Instead of hoping that your college-bound child will know how to manage their medication when they land on campus, intentionally start helping them learn how to while still in high school. If your teen builds good habits in high school, they’re much more likely to continue them while off at college. Continue reading
How to Support Your Homesick College Kid
Your kid goes off to college, and you’re both hoping that it will be some of the best few years of their life so far. But then you get the dreaded call or text saying that they’re terribly homesick. What do you do? Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all solution to this situation because each child is so different. Here are five things to consider that should be helpful. Continue reading
Taking Care of Yourself When Your Loved One Struggles with Their Mental Health
When you’re the parent of a child that’s struggling with their mental health, it can be a struggle to take care of your own well-being. Here are five thoughts that might help you maintain balance. Continue reading
The Transition to College for Teens with IEPs
The transition to college is most effective when starting in high school. If you have a child with an IEP, the transition is a little more complex. There are some additional considerations to take. To help simplify the process, I’ve broken down the college transition process into chunks. In each chunk, I’ve given ideas on what you and your teen can do to best prepare. This is a general list. So, please keep in mind that you will need to add some items tailored to your child’s unique needs. Continue reading
Therapy and Your College-Bound Teen
Your teen struggles with their mental health. It may have been on and off during particularly stressful periods of their life, but you know they are prone to anxiety, depression, and burn out. Knowing this, it can be overwhelming thinking that your child is moving out without the needed therapeutic support. It might be tempting to ignore this important facet of the transition to college, but I urge you not to. If you do, you risk your college-bound kid struggling incredibly… possibly to the point of needing to withdraw. Fortunately, you have some options. Continue reading