by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Education, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Strong for Parenting, Teen Success, Teen Suicide
Truth-telling time. The most common mistake parents make when interacting with their child is failing to recognize when they should be listening, and they miss the opportunity. I call these opportunities listening moments. Here are some of the most common parent-child...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Teen Suicide
A hard truth: One of the toughest things about being a parent is the mistakes we make. When I was a parent, I got lucky. I followed my best instincts and made some good things happen. But nobody’s perfect, as they say, and I also lost my temper quite a few...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Alcohol, Drugs, Encouragement, Mentoring, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Blogs, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, Teen Culture, Teen Sex, Teen Success
Teens need to be liked and included by friends. And in all sorts of ways, friends can pressure your child to conform and get involved in what they’re doing. Not all peer pressure is bad. If your child’s friends have good values, they can influence your...
by Dennis Coates | Critical Thinking, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books, Teen Success, Teen Suicide, Uncategorized
I guess I’m a natural introvert, meaning I spend most of my time in my head, not interacting with people. Not that I can’t engage; I just prefer reflecting about the world around me. It’s a pattern that has served me well in learning, researching,...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Critical Thinking, Encouragement, Inspiring Quotes, Parent-child Communication, Parenting Books, Personal Strength
As I write this, Vladimir Putin has decided that he wants Ukraine to become a part of Russia. The people of Ukraine don’t want this; they want to remain their own nation, separate from Russia. But rather than enter into peaceful relations with Ukraine, Putin has...
by Dennis Coates | Behavior Change, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Parenting Books, Rebellion, Uncategorized
So many of the emotional flare-ups and conflicts that arise between parent and child are triggered by the failure to communicate effectively. Instead, we react emotionally, with frustration or anger. It’s only natural, but it alienates your child. It’s an...
