by Dennis Coates | Aug 5, 2019 | Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Education, Parent-child Communication, Self-Esteem, Teen Success
This weekend we’re headed to Corpus Christie to celebrate our niece’s wedding. Since our go-to cat sitter isn’t available, we found a 15-year-old young man who wanted the job. He came to our home to be briefed, and I had a chance to talk with him. Me...
by Dennis Coates | Jul 29, 2019 | Fitness, Health & Nutrition, Inspiring Quotes, Parent-child Communication, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, Teen Culture, Teen Sex, Teen Success
Young girls want to be pretty. They believe it will help make them popular and well-liked, and therefore be included in the fun and excitement with friends. And they’re probably right. Because every aspect of popular media promotes a classic form of female...
by Dennis Coates | Jul 21, 2019 | Parent-child Communication, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, Teen Success
Both my sons are 50 years old (plus or minus), have successful careers in IT, and in many ways are smarter than I am. They certainly do make more money than I do. But honestly, I can’t take credit for how they turned out. Yes, I was mostly a kind father, I...
by Dennis Coates | May 28, 2019 | Adolescent Brain, Critical Thinking, Education, Encouragement, Mentoring, Parenting Books, Teen Success, Work
First, here’s what I mean by “smart.” One long-accepted understanding of “smart” involves acquiring knowledge: learning facts and basic principles. This is the primary business of middle school and high school. Kids understand this...
by Dennis Coates | May 5, 2019 | Adolescent Brain, Alcohol, Drugs, Education, Encouragement, Parent-child Communication, Parenting, Self-Esteem, Teen Success
Not long ago, I had a conversation with a local physician. Happily, we didn’t talk about my health. Instead, he spoke enthusiastically about his three children, two boys and a girl, all of whom have left home. He told me something unbelievable about them: all three...
by Dennis Coates | Apr 29, 2019 | Adolescence, Behavior Change, Parenting, Rebellion, Self-Esteem, Teen Success, Work
I saw something striking while shopping for groceries the other day. A young boy, about 13 years old, was walking just ahead of his parents. No, not walking. Sort of dancing, as if he were a lurching, broken robot. A green bunch of hair shot straight up from the top...
