When the Past Isn't Past: How Childhood Trauma Impacts Parenting Challenging Boys  We all know that we’re supposed to remain calm during challenging episodes, but knowing how is another story. Challenging episodes are highly provocative and stir intense emotions. It’s...

Stop Blaming Yourself for Your Son’s Challenging Behavior—It’s Not Your Fault! Here’s What to Do Instead  Parenting a challenging boy is very hard. You walk on eggshells and are on alert 24/7 because you never know what will set your son off next. It’s...

Parenting a Challenging Boy: How to Stay Calm and Be Prepared   If you have a challenging boy, you know how tough parenting can be. Your child challenges your authority at every turn, won’t take “no” for an answer, argues every decision, and explodes at the...

Guide to Parenting Resources: Books, Websites, and Support for Parents of Challenging Boys   Navigating the complexities of parenting a challenging child can be overwhelming, but with the right resources, parents can feel empowered and supported. Below is a...

7 Steps for College Academic Success: How to Ace College Even if You Weren’t a Good Student in High School   I’ve been working with kids going off to college for nearly 30 years. I did my PhD dissertation on what factors lead to a successful adjustment to college...

Getting Your Child Emotionally Ready for the Transition to College: 5 Essential Tips for Parents   This is the time of year when high school seniors are sorting through acceptances and making decisions about where to attend college. While we focus so much energy...

5 Steps to Stop Arguing with Your Kids Arguing with our kids is something that we all hate, but still most of us spend a lot of time doing it. In this blog post, you’ll learn 5 steps that have the power to transform any potential argument into an opportunity for you...

How Do I Get My Son to Practice his Musical Instrument? When I am asked by parents, “How do I get my son to practice his musical instrument?” they are frequently surprised by my response: “Don’t try.” Let’s face it, you have enough battles with your challenging son...

The benefits of Family Meetings far outweigh the hassle. Consider this: • Family Meetings Make Discipline Easier.  Children are more likely to follow rules that they helped create. Children are more likely to accept consequences as fair when they had a hand in...

5 Tips For Getting Your Son to Talk You want to be closer to you son, to understand him and his feelings better, but no matter what try you can’t get him to talk to you. Every question you ask gets a one word answer, silence, or an irritated grunt. Here are 5 tested...