Ever since my girls were little, I worried about how they would handle peer pressure and problems on the playground. I remember how hard it was some days to be in a group of girls. The “popular” girl decides to do something and if you don’t go along with it you are left out, and … More »
We’ve all been there: wanting to fit in, willing to forgo our sense of individualism and follow the crowd. Because for a certain time when you’re young, making waves and being different isn’t cool anymore. Instead, your friends wear pink, you want to wear pink (even though your favourite colour has been green your whole … More »
You’d think I’d be posing that question to a kid, but I’m not – I’m asking you: a mom. Why? Because I think it’s important to examine our role as mentor to our daughters, as it relates to educating them on peer pressure, and encouraging them to be true to themselves and not to follow … More »
You know what’s hard? Being a thirteen-year-old girl. When I was thirteen I remember the awkward, scary, too-tall and all-alone feeling that summed up all that was me. My wish for my daughters is that they have confidence in who they are, and a great group of friends they can count on as they navigate … More »
One of the things I love about my younger daughter is that she is unique. From her clothing/beauty choices (black & wild), to her taste in books (“World’s Most Disgusting Things”), to the macabre pictures she sometimes draws (what? someone’s got to draw them!), my girl has always marched to the beat of her own … More »
“If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?” This oft-repeated phrase reminds me so much of my girlhood and tween/early teens than I care to admit. My parents tried to urge me not to follow the crowd, but I never wanted to listen. They encouraged me to be unique, one-of-a-kind: … More »
Have you ever been out for dinner and your daughter couldn’t keep her eyes off the other little girl in the next booth? And when you got to the car maybe she commented on how beautiful the little girl’s hair was, or how come she didn’t have to eat all her dinner, before her parents … More »
Peers can have a profoundly positive influence on kids. Take, for example, the child who fast tracks through potty training because her peers in pre-school or daycare are no longer in diapers. Or, the child who supports her friend by cheering her on during a basketball game and sends the message that she is valued. … More »
I worry that since my daughter requires a lot of my attention due to medical and developmental issues, that my son pays a price. Though, so far he’s yet to be jealous of his younger sister and in fact, he plays a monumental role in nurturing her. I couldn’t be the parent I am without … More »
Yes, that is a cake that I baked. One of my better ones, actually. It’s a family joke, what a horrid baker I am. But every year, I try I loved Terry Carson’s latest article, The Myth of Perfect Parenting, because it addresses a very real issue that plagues and weighs on many moms today. … More »
