by Christine Hammond on September 28, 2021
Beginning at age twelve, a tween (age ten to twelve) develops critical thinking skills. This shift literally transforms a child’s mind from being receptive to others’ opinions into an adult mind that constantly questions opinions and facts. Gone are the days a child just believes what is said. Now begins the journey of conceptualizing, applying,… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 7, 2020
Teenagers are notorious for their extreme emotional responses. The contrast between “I love you” and “I hate you,” which sometimes can happen within a few minutes, is enough to drive most parents crazy. To cope, many parents end up ignoring their own emotions in an attempt to manage their teen. Over time, this develops into… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
It can be difficult to discern the difference between obstinate teenage behavior and a budding narcissist. After all, narcissism cannot be officially diagnosed until a person reaches the age of eighteen. However, the person needs to have demonstrated narcissistic behavior for a period of five year prior to the actual diagnosis. So how can a… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 6, 2017
The goal of parenting teenagers is to raise fully functioning adults by 18 years old. The age is predetermined by the legal system that declares a person an adult at that age. Therefore, regardless of the emotional maturity of person, they need to be equipped to accept adult responsibility at 18. The problem is that… (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 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 August 24, 2012
Has a client ever struggled with answering a simple open ended question such as, “Tell me about yourself?” Perhaps they look like a deer caught in the headlights, responding with confusion, “Well, what do you mean?” Or “What do you want to know?” Occasionally they may reply with overly generic statements which still provide no… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on August 24, 2012
Every now and then you get a chance to witness teamwork operating at its finest. Usually this is found in sophisticated work environments or in places where adults have known one another for a long period of time. I however have found it at a high school with a group of seniors who have come… (more…)