by Dennis Coates | Behavior Change, Education, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Rebellion
A young father was telling me about his two children, a seven-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. “My daughter is an angel, but my little boy is a terror. He defies me every chance he gets. At lunch I asked him to come to the dinner table and he refused....
by Dennis Coates | Behavior Change, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Teen Success
With every choice, there is a consequence. And the situation of that consequence sets up another choice. One choice after another, we create our life paths and become who we are. It’s a process that continues throughout one’s life. It’s how a child...
by Dennis Coates | Inspiring Quotes, Parent-child Communication, Parenting
On a clear day Rise and look around you, And you’ll see who you are. On a clear day How it will astound you That the glow of your being Outshines every star. As I listened to Barbra Streisand sing “On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever),” written over...
by Dennis Coates | Behavior Change, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting
It’s hard enough managing everything in a life – home, meals, bills, etc. Add to that being exhausted from a stressful job or raising kids. Or both! And further, add to that the pain of frustration, disappointment, or discouragement when your child...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Education, Mentoring, Parent-child Communication, Teen Success
As I was coaching a twelve-year-old girl, I concluded with this summary: “In the future, some of your friends will want you to conform, so you’ll need to stand up for yourself and be the kind of person you want to be.” Her reply: “What do you...
by Dennis Coates | Adolescence, Education, Health & Nutrition, Parent-child Communication, Teen Success
Getting a driver license is a rite of passage. Because of the way a vehicle empowers independence and how the license amounts to a badge of maturity, many teens look forward to this certification. And you want them – maybe you need them – to be able to...
