Blending a family can offer rewards and challenges that strengthen the bond of your marriage and your family life. To successfully merge families, parents will need to assess and discuss their similarities and differences and how they -- and their children -- plan to compromise and cooperate. Patience, consideration and open communication are essential and will help bring about a much smoother transition for the entire family.
Tag: parenting
What Do Kids Learn By Volunteering?
One of the goals of a parent is to raise a responsible child who's willing to help others. In a "me" society, that task can be challenging. But focusing excessively on oneself is typically the pathway to unhappiness, says clinical psychologist Carl Hindy. Volunteering, however, provides children with an opportunity to gain important life skills while learning to put others first.
Getting the Most Out of an After-School Job
As your teen joins the workforce, it's important to foster his sense of growth and accomplishment, while also setting realistic expectations for the responsibility of a job. Although adjusting to a job may not be easy for your teen, the rewards can outweigh the challenges, says New York-based psychotherapist Lauren Urban-Colacicco. "The benefits of working after school include a greater sense of competency and responsibility and [learning] greater time management skills," she says.
How to Let Your College Kid Go
For a parent, it's never easy to watch a child leave for college. For the child, however, it's an exciting time, one that shouldn't be stifled by helicopter parenting. If you're excessively concerned, your anxiety over your child's well-being could actually handicap her ability to live and function in the world, says Melody Brooke, Texas-based family counselor. "The greatest gift you can give your children is to believe in them," she says.
Can You Afford to Stay Home With The Baby?
When Danny and Tracy Kofke got married, they committed to live on one salary for four years before they expanded their family. While his wife worked as a teacher, Danny, also a teacher and author of two personal finance books, said they made sacrifices to pay off debt and build an emergency fund. The goal? The couple wanted one parent to stay home with the children. “Parents should start preparing for this way in advance,” said Danny Kofke. “There is no price you can put on having a parent stay home.”
Ways to Make Bath Time More Fun
Does the idea of bath time send your child running in the opposite direction? With some creative planning and a few exciting accessories, that daily stint in the tub can actually become one of the most enjoyable times of the day for your little one. Add some pep to the "splish" and the "splash" of bath time by boosting the fun.
Developing Self-Esteem in Teens
eenagers are bursting with energy and often feel invincible, but unique stresses and daily pressures eat away at that confidence. While dealing with school work, extracurricular activities, peer pressure and part-time jobs, it is likely your teenager's self-esteem takes a hit from time to time. As a parent, you can safeguard your teen's self-image and help develop healthy self-esteem with love and support. “Helping your teen improve his or her self-esteem and self-image can be a protective factor against problem behaviors in the future,” said Elizabeth Waterman, a California-based licensed psychologist.
Understanding Kid’s Perspective on Divorce
When a family is faced with divorce, it is common for children to have deep and significant feelings about the separation. Understanding your child’s perspective can help the entire family cope with the inevitable changes. “In general, children have different reactions to their parents’ divorce,” said Los Angeles-based psychotherapist Judy Rosenberg. “The main thing to consider is the well being of your child.”
Tried-and-True Teething Remedies
The misery teething sometimes causes your baby to endure can break your heart. Teething can begin as early as 3 months, said Dr. Elizabeth Athans of the department of pediatrics at Nemours Children’s Hospital. “For some babies, teething is painless and for others, it can be very painful, with brief periods of irritability, crying jags and disrupted sleeping and eating patterns.” Comfort and soothe your baby with tried-and-true teething remedies designed to turn those frowns upside down.
A New Year of Food: Buy, Sell and Hold
Achieving your financial goals and reaching your wellness goals may not be as different as you think. Knowing what to buy, sell and hold is crucial when it comes to both your finances and your food choices. “If you are a wise investor, you would keep the high risk portion of your portfolio to a minimum; and it's the same story with your food choices. The consequences of those choices could not be more important,” says Dr. Joseph Colella, Pittsburgh-based bariatric surgeon and weight-loss specialist.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 