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Can My Teen Be My Confidant?

It’s awfully hard to figure out if your teenager is grown up.  That’s largely because it’s awfully hard for your teen to decide.

When Parents Have an Argument

My parents argued with each other.

Most parents do.

In fact, we worry more about the parents who never argue. If parents don’t argue, we worry that they’ve lost some of the passion to discuss (albeit vociferously!) the difficulties in raising a family.

What If My Child Won’t Part With His Special Toy?

There was a common conversation that often happened when I was in college.

“What,” we would ask each other, “was the name of the blanket you carried around when you were a kid?”

“Blanky.”

“Big Red.”

“Actually, I didn’t have a blanket.  I had a stuffed elephant named Gilbert.

What If My Child Has Tantrums?

“Meltdown” is such a funny word to use for a tantrum.

The word itself actually comes from the nuclear industry.  It refers to that horrific moment when the reactor core has burnt out of control, and at any given moment, radioactive dust will spew all over the sky.

The Pre-School Is Worried About My Child’s Oppositionality

OK, let’s talk about oppositional behavior in young kids. Here’s a particularly unpleasant scenario.

You go to pick little Timmy up from preschool, and the teacher asks to have a word with you.  Uh-oh. Feels like being called to meet with the principal.

Contact Sports: Yes Or No?

There’s no doubt about the recommendations.  Most experts in neurodevelopment suggest that kids stay away from American contact sports, like tackle football, until they are at least 14 years old.

You can also tune in this conversation wherever you get your podcasts – just search for “Shrinking It Down.