March 21st, 2010 by admin

By Joanne Kimes and R.J. Colleary with Rebecca Rutledge, PhD,
Authors of Teenagers Suck: What to do when missed curfews, texting, and “Mom can I have the keys?” make you miserable.

Once upon a time, a parent was left to their own creativity to come up with new and clever ways spy and snoop on their teenagers. Listen in on the extension phone? Sneak a peek at their personal diary? Check for contraband stashed in the underwear drawer? Your current teenager might actually injure themselves laughing at your Neanderthal ways.
“Wait a minute,” your teen says, while gasping for breath, “Didn’t they do those things on an episode of The Brady Bunch?”

Okay, already. I’m old. Don’t rub it in.

Today’s teens might dare you to try and crack the code of passwords protecting their blogs. Or snicker while you attempt to make sense of the net lingo shorthand on their text messages. And only underwear is in the underwear drawer. So, while your neighbor’s cat has been “friended” poor old Mom is still waiting patiently on the “facespaceplace” page for her shout out. Read the rest of this entry »

April 13th, 2009 by admin

Is it any wonder . . .

Most people go through mid-life crises when their kids are teenagers?

Fewer parents are grounding their teenager — to avoid being stuck at home with them?

So many moms and dads downgrade to one-bedroom condos once their teens graduate from high school?

Mood swings? Check. Eye rolls? Check.  Slamming doors and easily annoyed teens? Check. Check. Read the rest of this entry »