The Real Deal Family and Relationship Guide

Teenagers are a real challenge to raise. While many parents will tells you the "terrible twos" are a real hard time to get through, this pales in comparison to the teen years. Teenagers today have so many negative influences in their  life that it is very hard for a parent to know where to draw the line between protecting your child, and letting your child have some space and privacy. Sometimes our best intentions can create far more negative outcomes than we can imagine. Teenagers are very resilient and should never be underestimated in how far they'll go to hide things from you. The question is, did you create a situation that prompted them to be this determined? If you are too protective, and too involved in your teen's private life you run the risk of creating just the opposite of what you really desire. Instead of making your teen feel like you really care and are looking out for their best interests, you will force them to seek privacy, and independence to a

Teen Mom 2 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) MTV's hit reality shows Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant are wildly popular. The show follows teens on a journey from pregnancy to parenthood and often reveal the day to day struggles the girls and their boyfriends face when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. In some cases, the girls seem to make the whole process seem rather easy, especially those like Chelsea Houska receiving a huge amount of financial support from parents. Chelsea drives a very nice vehicle, even bought a new one while on the show and moved into several rather nice homes/apartments while the show progressed. Houska's biggest struggles however, seem to be her own inability to end a toxic relationship with her baby's daddy Adam Lind. What teen moms need to remember about their boyfriends is that when you choose to have unprotected sex with a teenaged boy, you are choosing a teenaged boy for a father . You can't expect them to be a man, nor can they expect you to b

Image via Wikipedia There are many issues that can arise in a family around finances . Many people that find themselves embedded in financial problems simply don't take a visual approach to their debt. Financial success is a strategy. Not only is it a strategy but it requires flexibility, because life can change without notice. You have to be able to change with it and that calls for reassessments.  Occasionally a couple may find they can't seem to agree on the household finances because neither take a real look at the numbers involved with keeping a family functioning. Having a written visual aid puts much into perspective and a budget is a must. If you are in a financial crunch this can weigh heavily on your relationship. The only way to improve things is to tackle finances head on. Here's a few tips: A visual representation of your finances speaks volumes. Being able to see exactly where your money is going on a monthly basis is the best way to start gaining contro

Image via Wikipedia Whether it is with your children, spouse or friends there are many things you can do as an individual to ruin a good thing like a lasting loving and healthy relationship with the people around you. We are all guilty of the things on the list from time to time, but too much a bad thing is just that..too much. 1. Using the “you owe me” line- Parents if you are using this with your children stop. There are only a few times a child owes their parents anything and they are the following: If you supported them financially or provided food, transportation and shelter beyond the age of 18 then yes, you deserve a big thank you and some credit for any success that came of your help. However, if you kid left home when they became of legal age, managed to take care of themselves and have asked very little of you, congratulations, you did what you were supposed to do and raised a responsible adult. Do they "owe" you for that? No, that was your job, and we

                                                Dawn Gagnon Photography ©2023 As more of our children grow up in single parent homes, they are quick to assume that child rearing is a way to gain more love from another human being. Raising children is a difficult job for any parent of any age. More and more teens are entering this life changing decision only to realize too late how hard it is and how ill prepared they are for the undertaking. Recognizing an artistically gifted child Children are often born with a creative instinct of one type of another. Paying attention to the signals they give at a young age will help you, help them find their outlet and medium. A lifelong love and talent may be just within reach for your youngster. To read more on how to do this click here:   Recognizing an artistically gifted child Talking and connecting with your teen Parenting is one of the single most rewarding, yet difficult jobs there are. When they are young, you spend your time teachin

Image via Wikipedia During the Holidays a lot of people become depressed. It is easy to forget family and those in your family who may not be having the best of times. If they live alone, it is even worse. We must remind ourselves that they should be able to celebrate as family, too. If you have children, and they have grandparents that are active in their lives, you should give them every opportunity to spend as much time with them this time of year as possible. Read more here: Spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren Related articles Inexpensive holiday decorating ideas (examiner.com) Must have Thanksgiving side dishes (examiner.com) Great deals on Christmas gifts (examiner.com)

Image via Wikipedia What happens to our bundles of joy? In the beginning, these little delights gave our lives meaning, then suddenly in the blink of an eye they change.  Mom and dad become old and geeky and oblivious to everything relevant in a teens eyes. How did that happen? Moreover, when did we, become our parents ? Teenagers are a strange brood. They vacillate between happy and joyful and moody and obstinate. I do believe, in my experience as a parent for 23 plus years, and I'm not done yet...that the minute puberty sets in..the worm turns for our little former bundles of joy. My kids use odd terms that cover a wide variety of emotional expression. For instance, if I tell DJ , "my 12 year old version of Little Man Tate " to take out the garbage, I hear "taking out the garbage is gay ". Now, because I am no perfect, politically correct  parent, I usually retort by saying "Well then I picked the right person for the job then". Yes, I know..I

Image via Wikipedia Today , the stay-at-home mom is a dying breed, finding fulfillment and contentment in this difficult decision is a struggle, but with the right sense of humor , and your families best interest at heart, you can survive this . To keep from being the couch potato , bon-bon eating diva, finding things to do shouldn't be a problem with any active family. A few suggestions to keep you busy are listed here: Staying active as a stay at home mom Related articles 10 Sanity-Saving Tips for Moms Who Blog (socialmediamom.com) Research Study of 692 Women Uncovers the Secrets to Losing Baby Weight after Childbirth (eon.businesswire.com) Stay At Home Mom : Overworked, Underpaid, AMAZING! (momblognetwork.com)

We've all been stuck somewhere waiting with our kids. It isn't long before we hear the familiar wails of "we're bored..", "how much longer?" and "can we go now?".. There are ways to cope with waiting with children that is fun and beneficial to you and them.  Here are some fun ideas to try the next time you are waiting with your kids: How to Have Fun While Waiting With Kids Related articles Keeping Kids Party Games Fun & Fair (valuebookshop.com) LeAnn Rimes Can't Wait To Deck The Halls With Eddie Cibrian's Kids (thefrisky.com) No waiting for teenage braces, kids see orthodontist earlier (timesunion.com) Creating a Fun and Krafty Kids' Table (apartmenttherapy.com)

Parenting is one of the single most rewarding, yet difficult jobs there are. When they are young, you spend your time teaching, and keeping them safe. As they grow and need you less, you find yourself somehow feeling a disconnect. Teen years are a painful mixture of emotions, hormones, and pressure. Bridging the gap between them and yourself is a challenge, but with determination and patience it can be done. Reconnect with your inner teen - Think back to when you were a teenager. Remember how confusing, painful and fun it all was? Take a look through your high school yearbook. Remember the struggles, the tears and the laughter? Things may be a little different now with your kids, but those emotions are the same and we all had them. Tell your teen about your times, so they can relate to the person you was, when you were in their shoes. Find a quiet place - Offer to take your teen out to eat. Order take out fare and go to a local park and make sure you turn off the cell

Image via Wikipedia We all know how important moms are to our lives. Sometimes, we forget its the little things that mom wants more than any cheesy card or gift. Here are a few suggestions to make mom happy. Read more great ideas here: Showing mom love on Mothers Day Related articles by Zemanta Fabulous Mother's Day Gifts (beso.com) The Best Last Minute Mother's Day Gift and Present Ideas for Mom (holiday-entertaining.suite101.com)

Lets face it , kids are savvy negotiators these days. Long gone are the times when as a kid,one stern look from dad, or the sound of a belt buckle coming undone sent you into action. Here are some strategies and  tactics for getting  your clever kids to do their chores. Give them options - Let your kids decide from a list what chores they want to do. You make the list. Kids are far more willing to abide by their own choices than they are to follow your orders. Make sure you make the list according to their age and ability. When teaching young children to clean their rooms, make it as fun as possible, and break it down into small goals, ie: "pick up all the toys with the color red", etc. This keeps their mind active, and gives them small achievable goals. Offer Incentives - Give your kid an incentive list they can pick their own reward from. Here again, you want to have a limit and you want to name the reward. We don't want to promise things to them tha

Image via Wikipedia Is there anything worse than a spoiled child ? Yes, a spoiled adult child, the end result. Lets face it, we all have the yearning to always give our children everything they need and want, but to do so well beyond the childhood years is ridiculous. Being a constant "go to" for all your child's problems turns you into a crutch, they never learn to walk with out. Come up with a plan - Start teaching your children early on what you expect out of them. By the time your child is out of high school, they should have a plan in mind for life. Encourage them to discuss their plans with you. Offer suggestions, such as college, trade school , or they are going to have a full time job . If they seek higher education , via college or trade school and drop out before completing, teach them the err of their ways by insisting they pay back any money you spent to put them there. Make sure they understand what you expect by the time they reach adulthood.