Seeing our kids struggle is heart breaking for parents. In fact, it can be one of the hardest things for parents to do. It’s why they jump in where they shouldn’t and do more for their kids than is healthy. Parents want to protect their kids, to simply wave a magic wand to give them a perfectly wonderful life. While there isn’t a magic wand, there are important lessons that give kids a leg [...]
Do you have an unmotivated teenager? An unhappy one? It turns out motivation and happiness go hand-in-hand with purpose. But we don't focus on purpose with our teens. It starts when they’re little and we ask our kids what they want to be when they grow up. As they enter high school we start asking about colleges and careers. But it turns out we’re focusing on the wrong question if we want our [...]
Unfortunately bullying happens, and parents can feel helpless. However, there are things we can do behind the scenes to prepare our kids to survive if it happens to them. Today’s guest on the Mighty Parenting podcast shares his story of being bullied and how he used it to fuel entrepreneurial success. Randy Ginsburg talks to Sandy Fowler about why kids don’t tell their parents they are being [...]
A universal truth is parents want to be close to their kids. But when our kids become teenagers it can be tricky to find ways to strengthen family bonds. One way to do it is to spend meaningful time together, and a great way to do that is to volunteer as a family. On today’s episode of the Mighty Parenting podcast, Sandy Fowler chats with Jenny Friedman from Doing Good Together. They explore the[...]
When asked what we want for our children, most parents say we want them to be happy. However, we also want them to be good, kind, responsible people. That's the premise behind Kara Kinney Cartwright's new book Just Don't Be An Assh*le: A Surprisingly Necessary Guide to Being a Good Guy. It's a straight-to-the-point conversation with our teenage sons about the unspoken rules of life. Kara brings [...]
Parents are suddenly thrust into the position of teacher. Not only that, but they have to do it while adhering to someone else's schedule and plan. Coping with learning at home is pushing many parents over the edge and causing their stress levels to soar. There are a lot of tips out there for managing logistics but there is more to it than that. Sandy Fowler shares insights and a mindset that [...]
We hear a lot of frustrated and worried parents commenting on the way teenagers aren't handling disappointment or failure well. When life gets frustrating kids are folding or melting down. Not being able to buy the gadget they want, not getting the grade they want, not making the cut for the team, not achieving 1st chair in orchestra or not getting praise and adulation from their boss, teens and [...]
Trying out for the theatre or a team. Being graded on a performance. Trying to make friends or ask someone out on a date. Teenagers face rejection and failure frequently and they may not have the skills to bounce back. It takes resilience which is something many teens and twenty somethings don’t have. Additionally, parents can actually hinder the process when they attempt to help. Stephen David [...]
Work-life balance is a myth. It's not about balancing work and all the rest of life. Work is a part of life and to separate it like that is disingenuous to you and your potential, not to mention your family. Pushing for balance stops us from enjoying our lives and from achieving our potential. Most importantly, it’s hurting our children. Executive and leadership coach Dana Look-Arimoto talks to [...]
Writing skills are essential for success. Our kids need to write papers, apply for post-secondary schools and scholarships, and eventually hold a job. Ask a manager what their biggest employee problem is and they are likely to say their employees can't communicate. Today we're looking at what's happening with written communication. Our kids are lacking writing skills and we're wondering why that [...]