A Tough Question About Ourselves

Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity.  Andre Gide A recent revelation: We do not provide safety and vulnerability for us to share our gifts with each other; and just how difficult it is for most adults to talk about themselves. The fear of appearing bombastic or pretentious is often paralyzing. It is indeed a fine … Continue reading A Tough Question About Ourselves

What #Teens Want Us To Know About #SexEducation (and waiting for us to ask)

Parents are not sex education experts just because they are parents. ~Pepper Schwartz With our second teen hanging out with a regular female friend, we feel as though we entering into the 'fire in the hole!' phase of his pubescent maturation. Our family continues to have healthy, open, honest, and at times, uncomfortable conversations. You … Continue reading What #Teens Want Us To Know About #SexEducation (and waiting for us to ask)

Circle It Up: All in the Name of Community

It's not foreign for me to be talking about my problems in circles. ~Matthew Perry As a part of our re-visioning for a newly expanded middle years program (grades 7-9), we made it essential that we could have a designated space for a twice-a-day circle to fit 49 students, five staff members, and room for … Continue reading Circle It Up: All in the Name of Community

Talking Porn With Our Teens Benefits Everyone

Sex education has to do with what's in people's head. ~Donna Shalala I recently came across this TEDxTalk by public health researcher and advocate, Emily Rothman. I watched it a couple of times while fully digesting the power of what she was advocating: use porn as a pretext/context to have discussions with teens about healthy … Continue reading Talking Porn With Our Teens Benefits Everyone

Parenting A Teenager? Try This One

When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.   ~Nora Ephron Close family and friends will know that I say often this: My teenager has been, far away, the greatest teacher in my life. I have learned more about myself as a parent, … Continue reading Parenting A Teenager? Try This One