Handling bad habits with care
Handling bad habits with care
We all have bad habits. Our spouses usually helpfully let us know about ours. But it's our children's bad habits that tend to worry us more.
parenting
Physical contact part of bonding
Physical contact part of bonding
We have become very careful, even wary, about touching children.
Bath time fun time
Bath time fun time
Bath time can be stress time for a variety of often opposite reasons: can't get them in, can't get them out, can't get the soap near them, they nearly empty a bottle of body wash every time.
Dealing with drug issues
Dealing with drug issues
Today's youngsters are growing up in a world where there's much more than alcohol, nicotine and cannabis to experiment with.
Keep calm, make time
Keep calm, make time
Is the house a zoo in the morning with everyone rushing around and the children getting little more than barked at?
Working parents
Working parents
Economic necessity created by the current high rentals and mortgages, zero-hour contracts, or wages lower than the living wage makes it almost certain that all the adults in a household will be working outside the home.
Helpful books on raising boys
Helpful books on raising boys
Last week I touched on the work of Celia Lashlie and her approach to ''growing our gorgeous boys into good men'', which is spelt out in her book, He'll Be OK.
Growing good men
Growing good men
In February, New Zealand lost a champion, Celia Lashlie, who championed our young men.
Computer use and posture
Computer use and posture
Not too long ago parents might have worried about how their children sat or lay when they were reading and whether they were straining their eyes in low light. Probably needlessly in the main.
The lessons of consequences
The lessons of consequences
March provided some interesting stories in the media on the parenting front and, surprisingly, international celebrities seem to do better than us ordinary folk.
Hormones: a lot to answer for
Hormones: a lot to answer for
It's those hormones again, wriggling around causing great discomfort and stirring trouble. Teenager is spoiling for a fight.
Learning about loss
Learning about loss
I've written in the past about death and grief and its impact on youngsters. But, for a teenager, death is not the only loss that can bring significant grief.
Children, listen and take heed
Children, listen and take heed
Over the past month I've reflected on some of the first principles of parenting. So this week, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, here are some first principles for the children.
Up through the significant ages
Up through the significant ages
I'll shortly be heading off overseas for a month's holiday and three significant birthdays.
Poor self-esteem
Poor self-esteem
Making a connection with a teenager with poor self-esteem can be particularly difficult, not only for parents but also for their peers and other adults.
The cost of parenthood
The cost of parenthood
The Government says we can't afford to introduce six months' paid parental leave. Child advocates and some parents claim we can't afford not to. Andrew Laxon, of The New Zealand Herald, reports.
Educator offers advice to parents
Educator offers advice to parents
There were nods of understanding from some parents, and some moments of epiphany for others, when leading international educator Joseph Driessen gave tips for parenting teenagers.
And the baby came too
And the baby came too
A new baby often means travelling days are replaced by days of dirty nappies and disturbed sleep for the foreseeable future. But for us it was the perfect opportunity to take our 10-month-old girl away for six months of backpacking around South America.
MP's comments about children anger father
MP's comments about children anger father
A Wellington man is angry that Labour MP Charles Chauvel said his children should "shut up" during a flight at the weekend - even though his wife, two rows away, did not hear the comment.