Teens and Tweens
Consumer-proof your teens
Someone's out to get your kids - and they mean business. A special PBS Frontline report named them "The Merchants of Cool" in their in-depth look at the aggressive marketing used to control how American teens spend their money. At 33 million strong, today's generation of American teens represents...August 14, 2008 - 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Children and theater - a win/win scenario
HI Barbara, I know that you are busy with moving and all, but if you ever get the time, I wanted to ask you how you got your children involved in theatre. I have four children, ages: 11, 9,9, and 7. The twins are shy and the other two...July 31, 2008 - 7:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Teens need freedom from pressure to choose gay labels - Part 3
From my April 23 post Camille Paglia: Teens shouldn't be pushed into gay identity. This Question/Answer piece appeared in Salon magazine as part of Camille Paglia's standing column. Paglia is a brilliant philosophy professor who adores football and happens to be a lesbian. What is remarkable about Paglia is her...July 18, 2008 - 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Teens need freedom from pressure to choose gay labels - Part 2
In answer to the Post's propaganda piece on gay teens (I plan a post later on propaganda): Washington Post tells kids homosexuality is fine Robert Knight Throwing aside even a pretense of fairness, The Washington Post openly promoted homosexuality to teens in a front page article on Monday about a...July 18, 2008 - 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Teens need freedom from pressure to choose gay labels - Part 1
PFOX Exposes Dangers Of Self-Identifying As ‘Gay’ Before Maturity Gay Straight Alliance clubs in high school work to exclude ex-gays from bullying and anti-discrimination policies. July 18, 2008 – The Washington Post recently ran a sympathetic article about a 15-year-old boy named Saro who described his homosexual feelings and how...July 18, 2008 - 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Critical thinking - teaching your kids to think for themselves
Funny how some nonbelievers think that Christians are mindless robots. I actually see evidence daily that it takes a lot of critical thinking skills to overcome the forces of social engineering (media, music, movies) that have convinced the masses that tradition is bad and that homosexuality, abortion, and promiscuity is...July 10, 2008 - 7:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Self-Injury. . . . What parents need to know
My friend Jan Kern has written a book called Scars That Wound, Scars That Heal: A Journey Out of Self-Injury. I asked her to write a guest blog for MommyLife on this important subject. Responding to a Child’s Self-Injury “Those are burns?” “Why would you do that?” “You don’t just...June 15, 2008 - 3:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Mother/daughter quiz - find out how close you really are
Sophia and I just took this quiz at Brio magazine: Can Mother and Daughter Make the Grade? by Shannon Caster Your mother knows your middle name and never forgets your birthday, but can you two make the grade on other fun trivia about each other? First, have your mom guess...May 24, 2008 - 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bless your children every morning
Yesterday got off to a great start for me. After putting my kids on the bus, I drove to the Lovettsville Library to share the Montessori approach to reading. One thing we touched on was the need not to feel overwhelmed by trying to implement a whole program, but just...May 16, 2008 - 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Vaccines - make an informed decision - Part 2
In Vaccines - Part 1, I provided some personal historical perspective to show why parents should not blindly follow the medical establishment's current vaccination protocol. In previous posts I've shared the history of xray machines being used in children's shoe stores before the longterm effects of radiation were understood. Through...May 1, 2008 - 9:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Vaccines - make an informed decision - Part 1
Continuing our discussion of vaccinations, I have a personal story to share: My first daughter Samantha Sunshine was born in 1969. Always questioning the status quo, I researched natural childbirth and breastfeeding. These are freedoms new mothers now take for granted, but in those days the medical establishment wasn't having...May 1, 2008 - 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Freedom vs Protection - thinking it over
My son Zach (20) first asked me what my readers and I thought of this article. I didn't post it then, but when I got a second request from Kari, I thought maybe you all would like to comment: Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone Posted on...April 29, 2008 - 5:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBack
Teens going thrifty too
From the Washington Times, Apr 23, 2008: It's hip to be thrifty By Anne D'Innocenzio - NEW YORK (AP) The souring job market and rising costs of the usual teenage indulgences — a slice of pizza, a drive to the mall, the hottest new jeans — are causing teens to...April 24, 2008 - 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Protecting your sons from aggressive girls
Yesterday I brought up the topic of aggressive girls - which is occurring at younger and younger ages, augmented by IMs and text-messaging - and which can take mothers of boys by surprise. I emphasized the responsibility of parents to be proactive in setting apporpriate guidelines and expectations for sons...April 22, 2008 - 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Teaching sons about aggressive girls
My oldest son is now 24. But when he was 13, he had the unpleasant experience of a girl on swim team pushing herself at him physically. Yeah, I know, some people in this sex-saturated culture would say, "What's the problem?" Like guys are supposed to be indiscriminate, reacting to...April 21, 2008 - 9:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Bisbee condoms - time to rethink teen sexuality
Remember the Bisbee Arizona prom condom giveaway? Last night Steven Reed, a Bisbee parent, left this comment on my blog - I'm printing verbatim: OK heres how we in bisbee look at it. How many kids in the us are having sex at very young ages and NOT usun g...April 21, 2008 - 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Bisbee Arizona prom condom giveaway
Prom Bag Pushes Kids into the Sack Bisbee, Arizona used to be known as a peaceful old mining town, but the city that was once rich in tradition is now rife with controversy. Against the wishes of several area parents, the local Bisbee School Board voted this week to include...April 10, 2008 - 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Advice needed: for a son not college-bound
My 17 year old son is in his last year of high school and he is still undecided which road to continue on. We live in Greece, so the college route has too many students who cannot get jobs after graduation. They just have a pile of diplomas to...April 3, 2008 - 3:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack
Teens losing touch with cultural history
Teens losing touch with common cultural and historical references By Greg Toppo USA TODAY Big Brother. McCarthyism. The patience of Job. Don't count on your typical teenager to nod knowingly the next time you drop a reference to any of these. A study out today finds that about half of...April 2, 2008 - 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Planned Parenthood "disappointed" - Parental notification rights upheld
Love being on Planned Parenthood's email list. When they're "disappointed" it's always a happier day for me! Take Action for Reproductive Rights Dear Barbara, We are disappointed to inform you that yesterday, Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office took action (again!) to lift the injunction on Illinois' 1995 Parental Notification law....April 1, 2008 - 8:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
HSLDA: Homeschooling through High School report
On Friday, HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association - which is just five miles down the road from me) held an all-day symposium on homeschool/high school. My daughter Samantha - homeschooling mom of five of my grandchildren - went. When she told me there were 300 people there, I asked her...March 29, 2008 - 2:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Why do liberals hate abstinence education?
Isn't it weird how the "pro-choice" crowd does not want kids informed about abstinence - thereby eliminating that as a viable choice? Liberals Want Federal Abstinence Education Cut President Bush’s 2009 budget proposal includes $204 million to support Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE), but dozens of liberals in Congress want all...March 25, 2008 - 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Children in the arts - balancing home and instruction - your input, please
I have been blessed by much of your blog over the past year. I have a question. My 8 yr.old daughter has been taking ballet for two years now. It turns out that she is incredibly gifted in ballet! She is in an excellent program only 5 minutes from...March 24, 2008 - 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack
Porn-maker praises Planned Parenthood's Teenwire
Since we were just talking about PP's Teenwire last week, I thought you'd be interested in this follow-up: Porn-Maker Praises Planned Parenthood's Teenwire Web Site By Penny Starr March 13, 2008 (CNSNews.com) - David Mech, or David Pounder as he's known in pornography circles, said that Planned Parenthood's Web site...March 17, 2008 - 1:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Parents: some thoughts on gender confusion
'Gender identity is very important to God.' Parents of children who struggle with gender confusion are being encouraged to raise their kids according to the gender they want to be. Nationally, organizations are adopting gender-neutral restrooms. And in California, students now can “choose their own gender” when deciding whether to...March 15, 2008 - 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
STD's common in teen girls - thanks to Planned Parenthood
From the New York Times: Sex Infections Found in Quarter of Teenage Girls By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN March 12, 2008 The first national study of four common sexually transmitted diseases among girls and young women has found that one in four are infected with at least one of the diseases,...March 14, 2008 - 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Parents - thinking about movies
Tripp sent me this link - food for thought: Seven Mistakes Movies Make I used to love movies. But I just can't get into the dark, depressing movies making the rounds and often winning the Oscars. The last movie I dutifully watched an unappealing-looking movie to find out what all...March 12, 2008 - 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack
Teens: when things don't work out the way you planned
Just publishing this email exchange for a glimpse into the tough decisions parents are sometimes called to make. When my children were young and I was trying so hard to be the perfect mom, I never dreamed that someday they might turn their backs on the things their dad and...March 5, 2008 - 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Cactus Cuties sing National Anthem
Start your morning with the National Anthem! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284&feature=related Martha sent me this link to a video of the Cactus Cuties (the embed code has been disabled) - five young ladies ranging in age from 8 to 13 singing The Star Spangled Banner at the Texas Tech vs Texas basketball game...March 5, 2008 - 6:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Classics for Kids - The Whole Story Series
Although I can't see who is placing orders through my Amazon link, I do get a list of the things people order - Which I love because sometimes I discover things that are really worthwhile - in fact, I have to use a lot of self-discipline to keep from spending...February 26, 2008 - 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Huffing - Dusting off - danger to teens/tweens
Patsyhikermama sent me an alert which was sent to all school staff where she lives about a phenomenon which has taken the lives of teens and 'tweens who've used DustOff or other inhalants to get high and ended up dying instead. Parents - you need to know....February 23, 2008 - 7:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dove ads - give your girls security and love
Plowing through a few days' email. You all send me so much brilliant and thought-provoking amterial! Martha Sears passed this on - a true wake-up call for parents (remember I talked last week about how our kids are absorbing the images that are bombarding them each day?): Dove titled that...February 21, 2008 - 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Is College for everyone?
[It's been almost two years since I ran this. I've gotten a lot of new readers in that time - some of you may find it interesting]: I had mentioned on the Q&A about grandparents that my oldest daughters chose not to pursue college - the first after a year...February 11, 2008 - 9:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
freak dancing at Loudoun Valley High School and elsewhere
From a Los Angeles parent: Hi, I just got home from volunteering at my son's Los Angeles high school homecoming, where the room was pitch black, the dj played rap music and wonder of wonders--the kids were freak dancing. The teachers and administrative staff working at the dance seemed resigned...November 11, 2007 - 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Hooking your kids on XBox games
From the At Least They're Honest department: ''We do a lot of testing to make sure that it's easy to pick up, easy to play, and, hopefully, easy to get addicted to,'' says designer Paul Bertone Jr. ''Some games, after you die, a box saying 'Do you want to...November 7, 2007 - 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Pediatricians prying into family privacy
Those of you with younger kids may not know of this insidious practice of pediatricians asking teens intrusive questions, a la American Pediatric Association guidelines. This is from yesterday's Boston Herald: Doc, what’s up with snooping? Pediatrician paranoia runs deep They’re watching you right now. They counted every beer you...October 5, 2007 - 2:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack
Teen-friendly news sites without liberal bias
Barbara, I am a homeschool mom of 8. I'm wanting my teens and preteens to read the daily news as part of their curriculum so that we can discuss current events and things going on in our world. Can you suggest some teen-friendly news sites that aren't liberally slanted that...September 15, 2007 - 9:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Navigating the Internet with teens
Last week, I received a review copy of Logged On and Tuned Out: a nontechie's guide to parenting a tech-savvy generation by Vicki Courtney: This book did not go on my stack of stuff to review because I sat down immediately to read it. This is an excellent resource for...September 4, 2007 - 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
email for kids
Barbara, Our 12 yr. old daughter would like her own email address. Do you know of any family friendly free accounts out there? I have a yahoo account but not always happy about the spam and ads -- any suggestions for my daughter? Thanks! Beth I'm throwing this out for...August 4, 2007 - 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
What to say to a pregnant teenager?
My daughter Samantha, mother of five of the sweetest grandchildren in the world, knows a family with a teenager who is now pregnant - a girl with a pure past whose innocence was lost to a teenage guy who is already a predator. Very sad to come to grips with....July 13, 2007 - 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Teens and chores - keeping a good work ethic as your child grows
Barbara, I was looking at your site and saw: No More Chore Wars – How to Build a Work Ethic in Your Kids You can’t do it all yourself! Start early – using Montessori principles – to instill a team spirit in your kids so everyone can enjoy a happier...June 18, 2007 - 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
20 ways to encourage reading
Visit the library. Then read books together with a picnic lunch on a blanket somewhere special. Invest in books. Look for lightly-used books at garage sales. Buy inexpensive paperbacks from discount stores. Care for books. Teach children to handle books as though they had great value. They do. Create...June 8, 2007 - 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Teaching your kids to think for themselves
Funny how some nonbelievers think that Christians are mindless robots. I actually see evidence daily that it takes a lot of critical thinking skills to overcome the forces of social engineering (media, music, movies) that have convinced the masses that tradition is bad and that homosexuality, abortion, and promiscuity is...June 5, 2007 - 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Teaching kids to make good media choices
I have an article in this month's Plugged In called What I've Learned from 20 Years of Raising Teens. Unfortunately, it's not available online, but those of you who subscribe, be sure to look for it. If you don't subscribe to Plugged In, it's available through Focus on the Family....June 4, 2007 - 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
A wake up call for parents
Like I've said before, I know you moms of little children are busy, but while you're taking care of your business other groups with aggressive agendas are taking care of theirs. Please keep up with what's going on in schools so you know what your kids will be facing. I...May 29, 2007 - 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack
"The talk" - Part 2
This is an excerpt from my book Dirty Dancing at the Prom and Other Challenges Your Christian Teens Face: How Parents Can Help. It follows a discussion about the importance of keeping the list of things you don't want your teenager to do short - and letting things like piercings...May 21, 2007 - 7:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
"The talk" - teaching kids about s*x
Hi Barbara, I'm writing to ask for your advice on a very volatile issue. My husband (J) and I agree that it's time to have "the talk" with our seven year old, for a few reasons. I know it probably sounds like we're rushing this, but I told J that...May 21, 2007 - 5:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Do abstinence programs work? The rest of the story
Last week ABC 7 News offered this report: Study: Abstinence Education Not Working which was picked up internationally and quickly added to the arsenal of anti-abstinence campaigners. Here's the rest of the story (my bold highlights) - which I don't expect to make the splash in the major media which...April 18, 2007 - 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Keith Deltano answers Mainstream Loudoun on abstinence
For those following Loudoun County public school skirmishes over Keith Deltano's abstinence presentations: The Washington Post got involved, evidencing its usual bias - and the fact that it gobbles up talking points from Mainstream Loudoun - in the title of its coverage: Christian Sex-Ed Lesson Criticized. Note to the Post:...March 25, 2007 - 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Welcome, Weekend Magazine listeners
Over a year ago Dr. Bill Maier of Focus on the Family's Weekend Magazine taped an interview with me. They're running excerpts every weekend through the month of March - just little sound bites to stimulate some new ideas in parents. My regular readers can click in to hear the...March 3, 2007 - 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Teaching kids to think for themselves: bringing abstinence education to Loudoun County and a school near you as well
Last fall I wrote about an award-winning former middle school teacher who'd been invited to speak on abstinence at Loudoun County High School. A local parent had decided that since Keith Deltano was a Christian he shouldn't be allowed to speak - discrimination against Christianity now being the only permissable...January 27, 2007 - 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Cutting
Fifteen years ago the big topic among parents of teens was eating disorders. Now the trend in extreme teen behavior is cutting. A form of self-injury, cutting is purposely piercing the skin with a blade or any sharp object to cause bleeding. Often, kids who cut choose spots that they...December 30, 2006 - 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Dove - evolution of beauty ad
If a picture says a thousand words, this little clip says a million: No wonder American women battle depression. Here's something I wrote in Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room: The push for mothers to be glamorous has been a serious setback for American moms, just another impossible...December 16, 2006 - 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
My Loudoun Times-Mirror column 10/18 - on abstinence
There's a story behind this column. A speaker was slated to speak to an assembly at Loudoun County High School on the subject of abstinence. A parent objected and went to the ACLU to try to shut down the assembly because the speaker happened to be a Christian (we live...October 28, 2006 - 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Feminism and the sexual revolution
Re: Moms for Modesty: just a little more food for thought from one of the founding mothers of the Second Wave Feminists (circa 1968 and on) - me. Looking around you today, you would never believe that eliminating the treatment of women as sex objects was a bigger part of...September 6, 2006 - 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Modesty and responsibility
Here's something that came to mind after I mentioned that girls are responsible for the message their clothing sends. It's an excerpt from my book Dirty Dancing at the Prom and Other Challenges Your Christian Teens Face - which, by the way is a useful book for anyone with kids...September 5, 2006 - 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack
More on modesty
It's not just in the U.S. that people have reached the boiling point with the corruption of our kids. One of my readers in Manila, Phillipines This is Not a Job for Superheroes posted this last Friday: Snuffing out childhood before it begins Other articles of note: Selling Sex to...September 5, 2006 - 7:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Moms for Modesty
Our family just doesn't do malls. So the last time I was in one - a few months ago when Maddy participated in a singing competition - I was shocked by the "progress" made in the seven or eight years since I last set foot inside. Truly our children live...September 4, 2006 - 12:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack
News flashes on teen behavior
Those who think teens should have the right to abortions - especially without their parents' consent - really ought to think again: From Teens Cope with Unwanted Pregnancies Better than Abortions, Study Shows Bowling Green, OH (LifeNews.com) -- A new study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence refutes...August 12, 2006 - 8:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Parenting Q&A - delegating diapering
Here's something we need to discuss. I'm going to be offline for eight hours or so as I make my way home from Denver today, but will post all your comments when I get home. A reader writes: I really just wanted to know your opinion on having a pre-adolescent...July 12, 2006 - 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBack