A new study by an Ohio State University researcher found that it is the stability of the parent and the home, not marital status, that determines whether divorced children will thrive and be happy. The study found that children who grow up with a single mother are as likely to succeed academically and socially as those […]
Fighting the Out-of-Work Blues
The starting bell in the employment race has always rung in the fall. September has traditionally been the best time to look for a new job. Children start a new school year, freeing parents from daytime childcare duties. Collegiates return to college campuses, leaving stores hunting for replacements. Corporations assess staffing needs as they ramp […]
Why We Cling to Unobtainable Dreams
American Idol has fueled the mega-star dreams of wanna be singers across the country. Yet, as acerbic judge Simon Cowell is quick to point out, many of those dreams are woefully misplaced. The crushing of dreams as impassioned but horribly off-key singers audition season after season makes for dramatic television. We laugh at their folly, […]
Do We Teach Our Children to Lie?
Children learn by example. Parents can tell their children all manner of “dos” and “don’ts,” but what they learn is what they see parents do. Most children have learned how to lie by age 3 and are lying several times a day by age 6. Parents may actually encourage their children to lie by telling them to […]
Is Lying Good for You?
We preach the value of honesty to our children, and we espouse honesty as one of the most valued goals of society; yet most people lie every day. One study found that most people lie at least once a day and some as often as two to three times every 10 minutes. We have an ambivalent […]
Put the Chill on Heat Wave Anger
When the temperature rises, tempers flare. It doesn’t take long in 90-degree heat for small irritations to ignite into angry rants. The frequency and volume of childish squabbles escalates. Frustrated parents lose their cool and yell at their kids. Spousal bickering escalates to angry arguments. When it’s hot outside, everyone gets more than a little […]