The Hardest Part of Parenting a Teen Is All the Not Knowing

Driving home from freshman orientation, my teenage son says nothing. Sprawled out in the passenger seat, bangs covering his eyes, he fidgets with the automatic window. “So, high school … it seems pretty cool, right?” I insist. “I guess,” he shrugs, as he stares out the open window.

85 Completely Rational Thoughts I Had When My Son Traveled Across the Country Without Me

Coaxing my homebody teen from his comfy boy cave often requires a hard sell. There’s usually some kind of edible bribery involved, and when there isn’t, he’s pretty much clock-watching until we get home. So when my son expressed interest in joining his class trip to the east coast, my husband and I did everything […]

I’ll Never Stop Tucking My Teen in at Night

My son isn’t much of a talker. At 13 years old, I’m lucky if I can wrangle a “fine” or a “yeah” out of him — and that’s on a good day. Like many kids his age, my son is up in his head a lot of the time, daydreaming and formulating opinions about the […]

Tween Speaks: 7 Reasons Why I Don’t Want to Go to a School Dance

Hey everyone, it’s me, Boy Wonder. You might not know this, but this is my second year in junior high. I’m an 8th grader now, which means this is my last chance to join school clubs and participate in events at my school, like school dances. My mom is pushing me really hard to go to […]

My Son Doesn’t Know What’s Best for Him, I Do

A few weeks ago I dropped my son off at camp for a week of recreational adventure. Believe me when I tell you he wasn’t happy about it. For the last two months — from the initial camp deposit to the final payment — he’s gone on and on (and on) about how much he didn’t want […]

36 Things No One Tells You About Parenting an Almost-Teenage Boy

When my eldest son made me a mom, I had no idea what I was doing. I’d never diapered a baby before, or fed one, or really even held one for any notable length of time. Having a baby and not a clue was scary. I spent a lot of time researching and worrying, wondering and […]

How to Get Your Tween to Listen in 57 Easy Steps

If you thought being a tween was hard, you should try parenting one. At an age when friends rule and parents drool, being heard can prove challenging. But there’s good news, moms and dads! Deep, meaningful conversation with your tween can be yours in just 57 easy-to-follow steps!

8 Movies Your Tween Won’t Be (Too) Embarrassed to Watch with You on Valentine’s Day

Who says Valentine’s Day is only for couples? In our household, we celebrate the big day ‘o love as a family. And this year, now that my tween is better able to understand romantic love, I’m planning a family movie marathon centered exclusively around the joy (and heartbreak) of first love. Take a look at […]

In Defense of Older Trick-or-Treaters

“If you don’t tell me what you want to be for Halloween, you won’t get to go trick-or-treating.” I told Boy Wonder for the hundredth time. “I’m too old for that.” he said. “People don’t like giving candy to older kids. Last year they kinda made me feel bad about it.” “What? Who? How? Was […]

5 Ways to Recapture the Magic of Childhood with Your Tween

“Mom, you can get rid of all that stuff.” Boy Wonder said as he pointed to a giant box of toys he’d spent years collecting. “Are you sure?” I asked. “Yeah, that stuff’s for kids.” And just like that, my tween closed the door on his childhood without so much as a nostalgic look back. […]