Keeping Kids Safe
I just read a rather funny magazine article about all sorts of electronic gadgets meant to keep kids safe. I’ve often joked with my husband that I’d like to implant some kind [...]
Read more Keeping Kids Safe
“That’s Not Fair!”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Kids are sensitive, especially to anything their siblings get. This could be attention, money, dessert, chores…the list is endless. How many times does a parent have to [...]
Read more “That’s Not Fair!”
Helping Your Kids Through Divorce
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Everybody hurts during a divorce; it’s not easy on anyone. Children react to and cope with divorce differently based on lots of factors: their ages, their relationship with [...]
Read more Helping Your Kids Through Divorce
Staying Connected To Your Tween
Andrea Ramsay Speers
If you’re the parent of a tween, you may see parents with younger kids, out for a walk at the mall or on their way to school, the little ones willingly reach for Mom or Dad’s [...]
Read more Staying Connected To Your Tween
“Parental Love With Strings Attached”
Andrea Ramsay Speers
I just reread a classic article about the danger in tying parental love and approval with good behaviour. It was written by Alfie Kohn, a well-known critic of and thinker [...]
Read more “Parental Love With Strings Attached”
“No” Is A Complete Sentence
Andrea Ramsay Speers
As parents (and moms in particular), we often have a hard time saying no. Whether it’s to a sleep over we’re not sure we’re comfortable with or whipping up eight unicorn [...]
Read more “No” Is A Complete Sentence
Protecting Our Kids From Internet Porn
Andrea Ramsay Speers
We’d all like to keep our kids away from graphic and disturbing internet pornography. Filtering tools give us a feeling of safety, but unfortunately researchers have [...]
Read more Protecting Our Kids From Internet Porn
Why Kids Need Chores
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Back when actual papers were delivered to our house, I would cut out articles that were relevant to my work as a psychotherapist. I was recently cleaning out my files and came [...]
Read more Why Kids Need Chores
Happiness At Home: Managing Today’s Stepfamilies
Andrea Ramsay Speers
If you are a member of a stepfamily, you know how difficult it can be to integrate all of the new members and adjust to the new boundaries and rules. The following ideas may [...]
Read more Happiness At Home: Managing Today’s Stepfamilies
Happiness At Home: 12 Rules For Constructive Communication
Andrea Ramsay Speers
Poor communication patterns erode self-esteem and harm relationships but sadly, plenty of people fall into the trap of indulging in them. If you and your relationship partners [...]
Read more Happiness At Home: 12 Rules For Constructive Communication