by Christine Hammond on December 10, 2016
A bruise should not be the requirement for evidence of parental abuse. There are many other ways a child can be harmed. While this list may not be all-inclusive, it is meant to expand on the traditional definition of child abuse. Most states recognize some aspects of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect but fail… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on September 30, 2016
The complaint from a teenager begins somewhat rationally. A project has no real application to a subject matter or life in general. A friend is overly critical when support is needed. Or a teacher instructs only one way, leaving kids with different learning styles out in the cold. Then without warning, things escalate and become… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 5, 2016
This school year can be the best one yet for parents and children. Here are ten tips for a successful back-to-school. Be an active parent. Passive parents don’t engage in their child’s school activities or volunteer at the school. Helicopter parents are too involved with every aspect of their child. Neither approach is healthy. An… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 3, 2016
The primary purpose of parenting is to raise fully functional adults who can take care of themselves and make a positive contribution to society. Generally speaking, this should be accomplished by eighteen. After this age, parents have less verbal influence but can still be positive role models through actions, not words. It is with the… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 10, 2016
Divorcing a narcissist doesn’t solve everything. While the day-to-day distance can elevate the stress, anxiety, depression, and frustration of living with a narcissist, it doesn’t stop them from being narcissistic. The next party on the victimization list is often the children. But really, the narcissist is just using the children to attack the ex-spouse (ES)…. (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 1, 2016
Teenagers are notorious for their emotional mood swings. The extreme reaction of “I love you,” and “I hate you,” (sometimes happening within a few minutes) is enough to drive most parents crazy. To cope, many parents ignore their own emotions in an effort to try to manage their teen. Overtime, this develops into a pattern… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 27, 2015
Teenage rebellion is not just about skipping class, staying out past curfew, or smoking anymore, now the rebellion has taken on new forms and looks considerably different from the past. Understanding the early warning signs of teenage rebellion as opposed to normal development can make the difference not only in your relationship with the teen… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 30, 2015
Sometimes meaningful parental moments come in the middle of another conversation. It usually has nothing to do with the topic at hand and is uncharacteristically transparent. Looking back, you wish there was a bright shining light demanding your attention so you could savor every second. I had such a moment with my fourteen year old… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 29, 2015
Parenting is hard work. At times it can be overwhelming, lonely, exhausting, discouraging, exciting, joyful, rewarding, encouraging, and fun within just a few short minutes. The wide range of emotions you feel from excitement over watching your child finally ride a bike without training wheels to paralyzing fear as they ride that bike straight into… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 22, 2015
It seems like it happened all at once. One moment you were praising your kid for being so good and the next thing you know he/she is a completely different child in a foreign looking body. Not only are the clothing choices a bit different but the shoe size is rapidly increasing, the attitude is becoming… (more…)