Book Review: When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parents Survival Guide

As promised, here is the first book I can recommend for parents struggling with an empty nest. When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parents Survival Guide (1998), by Carol Barkin is a "support group with a binding" for parents preparing to let their kids go off to college. It is supportive, reassuring, and practical. Every family is different of course, so there is no "how to" manual, but this book is a great start - providing both the parent and student perspectives on celebrations and rituals, packing, emotional ups and down, relationships, and even many great suggestions for how to share the process in divorced families.

For those of you readers whose children have gone off to college, sit back and gloat that you survived, for those of you approaching the college years, this is a wake-up call - start preparing your children to be independent now - do not delay!

Ms. Barkin describes the months before the student leaves for college as intense. For the student, there is major emotional upheaval. Underneath the excitement of graduating from high school, and starting college are fears about whether or not they selected the right school, will make friends, and know what they need to survive in college. The more reflective students may also be a little sad that their childhood is drawing to an end and the security of home can no longer be taken for granted.

Parents, too have spent months worrying about issues as diverse as whether their child is as good as others and if the school they are attending will nurture their brilliance, and whether the co-ed showers will be an issue. Really obsessive parents buy a years worth of shampoo, remind their kids to eat five fruits and vegetables a day, and start home economics classes to teach "the basics" of getting up without a wake-up from a parent, cleaning, maintaining the car, banking, accessing medical care, and doing laundry. Every parent has worked so hard to get their kid to college, and is proud, but with every other breath, the same parent may just want to keep them in a strangle hold.

Every family says goodbye differently, whether it is at an airport, a new campus, or even on the phone, and then there is the emptier nest. Whether you have other children, or not, there is an empty spot in the car, at the table, in family debates, or even jokes - you will miss your child. This is normal. You can write cards and letters, leave voice messages, send emails, but try and let your child dictate how much contact there is - s/he is also trying to get used to the new life. Telling him or her that you miss them terribly is a burden they do not need - they cannot fix it - that is your job.

According to this book, most parents say "start filling the holes." Start a new project, make travel plans for seeing your child, take a weekend getaway, talk to other parents whose children also have just left, spend extra time with the children at home, join a new organization, start a home project, make new friends, but whatever you do, find something positive to think about, not just the child you are missing.

If you are used to knowing where your child was during the day, what the classrooms or work place looked like, it can be very disconcerting for you not to know what your child is doing, when, or where. Try not to focus on what you do not know, and plan a trip to visit your child so you can see what his or her dorm room is like, where the classes are, where they eat, etc... so there is less anxiety on your part.

One very important warning in this book is about the first time you visit your child at school. Be prepared for some awkwardness and for him or her not to need to spend every minute with you - they are not used to spending 24 hours a day with you and may have a life! Please do not be critical of there space, lifestyle, friends, or choice - be supportive of the life they are building. Be prepared to be shown around, and then left alone at times - this is a good thing - it means they are adjusting! Try not to be hurt or annoyed - it is what it is!

Obviously there is more in this book than I can share in this review, so I encourage you to read it for tips about preparing for the transition, what to do if things do not go well, and living through the first year. As with any transition in life - you are not alone - reach out, talk about how it feels to have your kid leaving for or at college, and forgive yourself for wishing s/he was still at home instead of grown up - this is all good!

Photo Credit: cursedthing

Labels: Parenting, School

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Weight Control in Middle School

Eating disorders obviously have negative consequences on people suffering with them including electrolyte imbalances, menstrual and digestive dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, and premature death. Disordered weight-control behaviors - like laxative use and vomiting are precursors to eating disorders and have also been found to be common in obese adolescents. Childhood obesity also has long term consequences to health. To combat both eating disorders and obesity, more schools are implementing wellness programs in conjunction with traditional fitness classes - to give students the skills they need to be healthy throughout their lives.

Results from research on Planet Health, an interdisciplinary school-based obesity prevention intervention were recently published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine suggesting that the program prevented disordered weight-control behavior in early adolescent girls. That article also suggests that more research must be done to figure out what works to prevent eating disorders in middle school-aged males, who did not reflect the same benefits as females after being exposed to the intervention.

The curriculum includes health messages focused on physical activity, TV viewing, and consumption of fruits and vegetables. This study was conducted with 13 middle schools in Massachusetts and the results published are from 1,451 students in grades 6 and 7. The results showed that at follow-up, there were more girls reporting disordered weight-control behaviors in the control schools than in the schools that received the intervention.

Photo Credit: crouchingbadger

Labels: Eating Disorders, School

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Thank You: Grand Rounds 3.53

Thank you Kevin, MD at Kevin, M.D. for hosting Grand Rounds 3.53 this week and including my post about college readiness.

This week was really interesting and the 4th year promises to be diverse - when in one week we get vegetarianism, Levi ads, the death of vaccines, and the impact of chronic disease on partners.

I appreciate the effort it takes to host Grand Rounds.

Photo Credit: web_guy94301

Labels: Grand Rounds

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Hair Removal and Beauty

Oh please! As parents everywhere are trying to combat the media pressure on tween and teen girls to be obsessed with their bodies - Nair is promoting hair removal as part of "growing up."

The Nair Pretty web site starts "It's not that you're obsessed or anything but maybe you've noticed that the hair on your legs (and other parts of your body) is just a little bit thicker and darker than before. Chill. You're growing up ... it's all good." The message though - is it is all good because we have the products to remove the hair - so you can be pretty - which means "picutre-perfect, silky smooth, " e.g., hairless.

Another annoying thing about the web site is that all the characters are long-legged white girls, one with very ample breasts. Then there is the page for moms - which, in their defense, does say open communication will help your daughter feel confident, although they only seem to be referring to discussing her anxiety and self-consciousness about her body.

Please parents and media - be real - encourage girls and parents to talk about pressure to focus on bodies and "sex appeal" with real options - to remove hair or not - we cannot just assume every girl wants to continuing looking pre-pubescent and "hairless." Girls have options!

Photo Credit: greggoconnell

Labels: Body Image

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Colage: Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere

There are 10 million people in the United States that have lesbian, gay, bisexual and.or transgender (LGBT) parents, which is the reason COLAGE was created. COLAGE is a group of people with LGBT parents that helps people feel like they are not the only person whose family is different. The mission of COLAGE is to engage, connect and empower people to make the world a better place for all children of LGBT parents and families.

COLAGE provides resources for families including books, videos, curriculum guides, speakers, training and links to other resources. They also sponsor family events, an online community for different ages, and even a pen pal program. The most important factor in mental health is "connection" to others - and sometimes living in a family that is "different" can make kids feel alone without reason. There are 10 million people living in LGBT families out there - who will understand what it feels like. Some kids are lucky, particularly here in the Bay Area - there have always been LGBT families in school whose parents are well-known and active in the community, but for others, they may need some support and COLAGE is there to help.

Photo Credit: Drab Makyo

Labels: GLBT, Web Resource

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

The ABCs of Healthy Teen Relationships

There is a great new resource at We're Talking Teen Health about healthy teen relationships, called The ABCs of Healthy Relationships. This new section of We're Talking was created by Julia Ransohoff and other teens and young adults with a grant from Youth Ventures and has great information for teens, parents, and teachers who want to talk about what healthy relationships are, and what they are not.

This site, which was piloted for use in the classroom last year, includes slide shows for teachers to use in class (with notes), and content about different types of relationships, figuring out which relationships are healthy and which ones are not, resources and information about how to help a friend, and most importantly, the concept: "Run your relationships; don't let them run you."

An example of the content from the assessing your relationship section are the questions:

• How do you act around this person compared to how you act around other people?
• How do you feel after having been around this person?
• How do you feel when you're around this person?

Teen relationships can be tough, and this site will give adults and teens some language that makes talking about them much easier.

Photo Credit: Simon Zirkunow

Labels: Relationships, Web Resource

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

July 2008 Law Bans Teens From Using Cell Phones While Driving

As of July 1, 2008 teens cannot use cell phones or text message while driving in California. SB 33 prohibits drivers under age 18 from using electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, pagers, laptops) while driving. Currently California law SB1613 (which goes into effect on 7/1/08) will require all drivers using a cell phone to use a hands-free device, but SB 33 stops this from applying to teens under age 18. Emergency calls to 911 are exceptions for all drivers.

I can't say this new law is likely to make a difference however - the fine for both is $20 for the first offense and $50 for repeat offenders - which is hardly a deterrent. Massachusetts is currently considering the same type of legislation, but their proposed penalties are a one year suspension of the license or learner's permit and a $250 fine.

Research shows that drivers who are distracted are more likely to have accidents and teens are four times more likely to be distracted by cell phone use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. There are currently 17 states with laws prohibiting cell phone use for teenage drivers.

I still think parents need to make it the law - no cell phone while driving. The best thing we can do as parents is to model not using our phones while driving. The Governor of CA currently enforces this rule with his own teenage daughter - cars and phones do not mix!

Photo Credit: R@punseLL

Labels: Driving

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Are Teens Emotionally Ready for College

A recent article in Edutopia by Jill Flury suggested that many teens are not emotionally ready for college, and it is our fault! In spite of the fact that kids are put into the college fast track in elementary school, institutions are providing support to meet college admissions requirements, there are tutors to help teens get into the college of their choice (for those who can afford it), and parents are pushing kids to "do it all," there are plenty of kids who do not make it through the first year at universities nation-wide.

Ms. Flury suggests that the dropout rate is not about a lack of academic skills, instead it is because students are not being prepared for the transition to college - and the self-care that transition requires. College frosh are experiencing low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, stress, and health issues at record levels. Knowing how to write an essay, having a high GPA, playing an instrument, being an athlete, national scholar, or valedictorian, are not going to prepare a student for pressures of living independently. Very few school are giving teens the "wellness" skills they will need to manage stress, deadlines, and competing goals (like fun and schoolwork). There are exceptions, like the fitness and wellness program at Castilleja School, in Palo Alto, but these programs are not the norm.

This article suggests that we need to worry about teaching kids how to do laundry, cook, clean, maintain their car, manage money, handle the daily stress of competing goals, and find ways to take care of themselves emotionally, spiritually, and physically while juggling everything else in their lives - like school, relationships, and work. Teens seem to need a wellness course, in addition to living skills, and parents need to make sure this training is happening at schools or in their own homes. Maybe we are beginning to see that the overscheduled, AP track is not really working for our teens and as parents, we are going to have to help them pull back the reins and slow down!!

Photo credit: Web_guy94301

Labels: Parenting, School

Permalink | 1 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Thank You: Grand Rounds 3.52

Thank you Kerri at Six Until Me for hosting Grand Rounds this week and including my post about Hooking Up.

This week was really fun to read - I laughed and cried - and I appreciate the effort it must take to host Grand Rounds.

Photo Credit: web_guy94301

Labels: Grand Rounds

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Expanded Learning Time in Schools

The Center for American Progress published an interesting report about expanded learning by Elena Rocha on August 28, 007. Given how many educational reforms I could suggest to enhance the well-being and health of teens, it surprised me that Ms. Rocha reported that the Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings believes that the next major push in school reform will be the expansion of learning time.

This expanded learning time is basically adding 3-5 PM to the current school day. The support for this reform seems to be that "our nation's public school students need to meet the demands and challenges of the 21st century." By expanding the school day, policymakers hope to close the achievement gaps between disadvantaged students and their peers. I believe the idea is that during these extra two hours a day, teachers and student will engage in high-level mentoring, projects, community service, and life-skills training with adults from the community as guides. These activities will focus on work- and college-readiness, across grades, and will start in K-3 with low achieving students.

Granted, I know that keeping kids in school until their parents are home will cut down a huge amount on the risk-taking behavior of teens, but is keeping them in school really the best answer? Maybe it is just me, but if the current six-hour, 180-day school year is failing, why do more of it? How is adding two hours making better use of the learning time? I might be cynical, but I am having a hard time imagining schools will radically change what they are doing, how they are doing it, and with whom. If there were people willing to come into schools and teach kids for free during the work day, wouldn't they be already volunteering?

I assume these programs will only be provided for disadvantaged youth since the kids that are already involved in after school sports, music, community services, or arts programs, would want to be able to continue with those activities. That's it - the federal government needs to give every family a voucher to pay for after-school enrichment activities of their choice - and build community centers where kids can play sports, travel internationally, and take art, music, dance, computer, cooking, and life-skills training courses with their vouchers. What a great idea! Given the summer slide in achievement and fitness, I think this program better be year round - and at $6,000 a child, it is a real deal! What a great reform - give every child the opportunities the middle-class can afford! I hope they name this the Brown Reform of 2007!!

Photo Credit: hans s

Labels: School

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Teens Leaving for College

There are entire books written for teens going away to college - how to prepare, how to make the best of your freshman year, getting the most from your undergraduate education, etc... but what many parents forget to read are the books about what it is like to watch your teen prepare to leave home - maybe for good! I will be reviewing a couple of those books for parents in the next few weeks, but for now, I just want to put my arms around all of the parents out there who have just been left at home while their teens went off to college! Here is a great big hug!

I know this is tough - I have been watching for months, as the packing, planning, and saying good-bye has been happening, but now, there is a finality to the whole process - the teen is safely settled into a dorm somewhere far away, excited about buying books, doing laundry, eating in the cafeteria, meeting great people, starting classes, and adjusting to the weather. Great for him or her - but what about the parent - who is waiting for the phone to ring and dealing with the emptiness in the house, at the dinner table, in the car, and in his or her day?

Some parents seem calm - almost peaceful - and others are stressed, tearful, and anxious - and I am unsure what makes the difference. We all knew this was coming - there were college applications, the SAT and AP exams, graduation - there is only one place those activities take our children - away from us! Whether your child moved out of the house for good or left their room intact and moved into a dorm - they are adults now - on their own, responsible for themselves, and thanks to you, prepared!

I keep flashing back to when my first child started kindergarten. I remember reassuring her that even if I was not with her during the day, I was still in her heart and then crying my eyes out as the door to the room shut behind me. I remember telling myself I had done everything I could to give her the self-confidence and skills she needed, and it was time to let her go walk through the world without me. All that drama for four hours every morning five days a week seems so silly now - and really petty compared to letting a kid go off to the other side of the country and live in a co-ed dorm. Whether or not it is a fair comparison - the issues are the same - and we use the same words to describe the process - launching, empty nest, letting go, and independence.

This is an important transition - your young adults need to learn how to manage their lives without us nagging at them, saving them or helping them organize and accomplish things - it is their time and we have done everything we can to help them be successful - now let them go and start filling the holes. Take care of yourself, spend more time with other children, friends or spouses, start a new hobby, work more, but let your teen be independent. No calling five times a day, or trying to keep them attached! Breathe deep, pat yourself on the back for raising a successful human being, and move on - it will be a gift for both of you!

Photo Credit: Asheboro Public Library

Labels: Parenting, School

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

But What is Hooking Up?

Warning - this post is not for the faint at heart or those people who believe "denial" is a form of birth control and safer sex.

Hooking up. I hear this term everywhere - from teens, professionals, parents, and in the media - but what exactly are the behaviors being referred to, and how dangerous are they from a sexually transmitted infection, point of view? What behaviors are teens participating in, how much fluid exchange is there, and do they understand how sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted via oral sex and even skin-to-skin in the case of herpes and HPV?

From what I had heard, and from the questions submitted at We're Talking Teen Health, I surmised that hooking up can mean getting together to hang out, or it may mean having sexual contact with a person they know, or just met, and that the sexual contact could include behaviors ranging from making out, petting (for us old folks), oral sex, fingering, anal sex, or vaginal intercourse. I was curious, so I asked the teens working with me this summer to explain what it meant. When they were done squirming, the consensus of these teens, ranging in age from 15 to 20, was that teens use the slang term "hooking up," to refer to everything short of sexual intercourse, but in college, when people are more likely to be having sexual intercourse, it can mean that, too.

What I admit surprised me, was that the "everything" short of sexual intercourse included not only making out (kissing, rubbing, touching, with or without clothes), but also oral sex and fingering, which were perceived as less sexually intimate than vaginal intercourse. It seems the current generation of teens are far more comfortable sharing their bodies with each other than we, as parents and professionals, may understand. Sadly, I admit that my generation is more likely to perceive oral & anal intercourse, as well as fingering, things that are more sexually intimate than vaginal intercourse, which suggests we are out of touch and that our "sex talks" may not be preparing teens for the sexual pressure or expectations they may encounter when they are out in the real world.

The teens reported that oral sex, and "fingering" (a partner inserting one or more fingers into a vagina), were just an extension of making out and considered "no big deal." In fact, they were likely behaviors that "just happened" before any discussion about potential risk occurred, and not even likely to be perceived as "sexual activity" that would require a conscious decision or any preparation.

I explained that what was concerning me was that so many girls were submitting questions on We're Talking Teen Health wondering if they had been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection by not using a condom for oral sex, or why they were bleeding or swollen after having been "fingered," by a partner. These teens seemed to have no concept that they were likely bleeding because their hymen, or the delicate vaginal tissue, had been torn, and swollen because there was likely not enough lubrication or too much friction, both things that suggest the experience was far from satisfying.

All-in-all, these scenarios did not sound to me like they were sexually pleasurable in the way my (granted middle-aged) brain thinks they should have ben, in order to justify the risk. I am left wondering why these young women are participating in a behavior that leaves them bleeding and hurt, or exposed to infection, and how they are participating in these activities without forethought about the consequences.

What this conversation suggested to me was that parents need to have a chat with their teens about the sexual experiences "their friends" might be having, and the risks and benefits associated with those behaviors. Just asking if friends are having sex, and breathing a sigh of relief when the answer is "no," is too easy (what a surprise). Finding out that teens are actually having oral sex and that fingering is seen as a safe and not sexually intimate activity, may require another, more uncomfortable conversation.

Photo Credit: greefus groinks

Labels: Sexuality

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Thank You: Grand Rounds 3.51

Thank you Dr. Joshua Schwimmer at Efficient MD for hosting this week and including my post about Teens and Health Care in Grand Rounds 3.51. It was an eclectic group of posts and some interesting reading!

Photo Credit: web_guy94301

Labels: Grand Rounds

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Teen Boys and Romance

My heart goes out to every teenage boy who has ever withered under the disappointed glare of a girlfriend or thrown his hands up with a pleading "what do you want from me?" It is not that they do not feel the emotions of teen love, or want with every fiber of their existence to make their partners swoon, it is simply a matter of having not read the correct books!

I am serious! How much better off would every teenage boy be for having read the love stories that preteen and teen girls thrive on? How is a teenage boy supposed to understand the allure of "as his lips brushed her neck," or "his gaze burned into her soul," or "I watched him stare at her retreating figure, as if she was his reason for existing?" This is the stuff love is made of for teenage girls and their poor boyfriends, do not have a clue!

Maybe if English teachers required classes to read the Twilight Series from Stephenie Meyer, and the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel, they could get read these books without being teased by peers and finally understand what teen girls are waiting for! It would be quite the popular male who knew the secrets of these romance books!

Resources:
We're Talking Teen Health has a page of resources about male health that you may find useful.

Photo Credit: Gunna

Labels: Boys, Relationships

Permalink | 3 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

School-Based Mentoring Programs

Due to the findings of previous research, and the common sense notion that children benefit from additional adult support, it is commonly believed that well-implemented mentoring programs can help youth be successful, and there are about 870,000 youth in the United States currently benefiting from mentoring. The most common form of the mentoring is for adults or older youths to visit students on the school campus, typically one hour during or after school, to provide the student with friendship, support, and academic help. This approach is called school-based mentoring (SBM).

Some of the benefits attributed to mentoring include reduced alcohol and drug use, better parent-child relationships, better school attendance and positive attitudes about school. To learn more about the impact of mentoring programs, the Big Brother Big Sister of America (BBBSA) program developed a study that involved more than 70 schools and 1,139 youth in grades four through nine. These youth, their teachers, and the mentors were surveyed in the Fall of 2004 (baseline), the end of that school year (first follow-up), and again in late Fall 2005. There was also a cost survey for school administrators during the 2005-2006 school year.

The results of that study reported that the programs were very inexpensive and :

• Mentoring programs targeted low-income schools, and 80% of the youth lived with a single parent and/or were receiving free lunches;
• Only 9% of the mentors focused on academic improvement as their central goal, with most focusing on relationship-building, instead;
• Youth improved in their overall academic performance and quality of class work, skipped school less, and felt more competent in school; and
• The longer the match between mentor and student, the stronger the outcomes.

In addition, there was evidence that students did better when the contact continued through the summer, which makes sense given the last result above - that length of time matters. I believe that all contact matters, and that all youth benefit from having adults who care about them in their lives.

Photo Credit: Olaf

Labels: Mentoring, School

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

More Q & A About HPV and the New Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States, with more than 6.2 million cases a year. There are more than 100 strains of HPV and more than 30 of these strains can infect the genitals, and some strains are associated with cervical cancer and genital warts. In June 2006 a new vaccine was produced by Merck called Gardasil that protects against certain strains of HPV and is recommended for women and girls ages 9 to 26. Since then, there have been many questions about HPV, so I thought I would cover a few of the commonly asked questions in this post.

How is HPV prevented?
HPV cannot be protected against, but condoms can help. Gardasil prevents infection of four strains of HPV that are associated with 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts cases. The vaccine will not cure HPV if the person is already infected.

Who should get the HPV vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all girls ages 11 and 12, before they are sexually active, or all women between 9 and 26 receive the vaccine. In clinical trials the vaccine seemed to work better for girls between the ages of 10 and 15 compared to people over 16. The vaccine is given in a series of three shots and costs about $360, although most insurance companies cover it.

How is HPV transmitted?
HPV can be transmitted through genital contact, even without intercourse.

How do you know if you have HPV?
Like many other STIs, sometimes there are no symptoms. The Papanicolaou (Pap) test detects changes in cervical tissue, and is a major tool in screening for early identification of cervical cancer. The Pap test is completed by a medical provider by taking a swab of the cervical tissue. Women should get a Pap test done when they become sexually active and then at least every three years, more often if they are having unprotected sexual intercourse with multiple partners.

Some districts and states are requiring the HPV, but as of yet, there are no federal laws requiring it.

Previous posts about HPV on Teen Health 411:

Oral Cancer and HPV
Could 1-in-4 Women Have HPV?
New Hampshire & HPV Vaccine
New HPV Vaccine (Gardasil)

Photo Credit: euthman

Labels: HPV

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Thank You: Grand Rounds 3.50

Thanks to Dr. Emer at Parallel Universes for hosting Grand Rounds 3.50 this week and including my post about Back-to-School Basics for teen health.

Photo Credit: web_guy94301

Labels: Grand Rounds

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Preparing Parents for Teens to Drive

Just a reminder - if you have not completed the Teen Health 411 Anniversary Survey - there is still time - do it right now!

I was sure that my daughter starting to drive would keep me awake some nights, but we are both moving forward, toward the day she will be 15.5 years old and ready to learn how to drive. My assignment last week was to call my insurance company and ask when I needed to add her to my insurance. The good news was, not until she getsher license - while driving with her permit, my insurance already covers her! The bad news was, even being a female, with good grades, and getting a discount for completing a computer-based program called Teen Smart, it will cost about $900 a year to add her to my policy - even if she only drives my car 20% of the time.

Well, OK, that was a shock, and I just decided that am not in a hurry for this to happen, and hoped she forgot she wanted to learn how to drive RIGHT NOW! No such luck, she collected my homework and we were looking at purchasing "Teen Smart" from Adeptdriver.com, which did not happen because they do not have a web-based or Macintosh-compatible version, but I discovered the following page of statistics:

• Any year, 60% of 16-18 year-old drivers will be in a police-reported collision;
• Teens are 400% more likely to die in a car crash tan 25-34 year-old drivers;
• 16-18 year old annual crash rates were up 6% between 2000 and 2003; and
• The chance of one crash in the first three years of driving is 89.2%.

Now I am terrified - how can people let their kids drive? How to cope with the thought of her driving off by herself in under a year? Gracious - there must be some teen driver meditations out there and I intend to find them! For all of you parents who have watched your children drive off in a car - bless you! You are strong, and courageous!

Photo Credit: Jason & Alyssa

Labels: Driving

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment

Bonding Over Books with Your Teens

Calling all parents who want to share a good book with their teenager (I only know girls who are gaga about these books) - here is a series for you! Three lovely books about a 17-year old girl who finds herself in love with a vampire! Brimming with the stuff that makes teen girls swoon, including gentle caresses, knights on white horses saving the day, romantic decisions, evil people, and first love! I have to admit, there is a point in each one of these books by Stephenie Meyer that I have to stop my world and keep reading until the end!

There are many ways to create quality time with your teens, and if you are lucky to both like to read, sometimes sharing a good book will bring you closer together and give you a new topic to talk about. The three books below are a great way to bring up love, passion, and decisions that come with those feelings.

Our friend Bina from Colorado mentioned these books when she visited this summer, and now they are being passed (I might add feverishly) between many teens - unfortunately as the school year is starting! I will tell you a little about each book below, but these are a must read for romantics!

In Twilight, Bella moves to a very rainy place in Washington and meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but his love for Bella encourages him to break "all the rules."

Enjoying their first true love, Bella and Edward return in New Moon to find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire, and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy’s reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi.

As a vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger in Eclipse, and she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Photo credit: inajeep

Labels: Book Review

Permalink | 0 Comments| Email Post

Post your comment