Saving the World One Teen at a Time
| Saving the World One Teen at a Time is a weekly column about navigating the tween-teen years in an increasingly thorny, competitive and tech-dominated world, written by two women with super-hero insights. Kristy Campbell is a mom of 5 (1 teen, tween twins, 1 pre-tween, 1 toddler) and works as an actress and social media consultant. She is currently writing her guide on how to survive the modern mom’s midlife crisis. Abby Margolis Newman is a mom of two teenage sons, and one prematurely teenage 10-year-old son. She has written feature stories for the New York Times, and articles for Parenting, Working Mother, and Scholastic, among many other publications. |
Who Gets to Define a Family?
Imagine this scenario: your child comes to you, years from now, and tells you he is gay. (I know, many of you are parents of very young children - just bear with me.) Then a few years later, he falls in love and tells you he wants to marry his boyfriend. more
Is There A Camera Crew In Your Child’s Future?
While at the gym yesterday, one of the Pussycat Dolls’ songs came on my iPod. My teenage daughter keeps me hip by adding songs I normally wouldn’t choose, and as I listened to “When I Grow Up”, I realized how becoming famous is replacing so many other goals for kids. more
The Dreaded Buzz Cut.
Two days ago, my 11-year-old son, Henry, got his first buzz cut, and I cried my eyes out about it. "It's just hair," my husband said in an attempt to console me, "it'll grow back." I know this, and yet I feel devastated by this loss. What's going on here? more
My Teenage Mom and Me.
Teen pregnancy is a hot Hollywood storyline at the moment. Shows like MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, ABC’s The Secret Life of An American Teenager, and Fox’s Glee all showcase the topic. Bristol Palin, the most recent celebrity teen mom, is also doing a great job of making teen parenting seem glamorous. more
Kids and Cell Phones.
I've been struggling for months now with the idea of whether to buy a cellphone for my 11-year-old son, Henry, so it was with great interest that I read the recent article in the New York Times entitled, "When to Buy Your Child a Cellphone." more
Senior Prom 2.0: Farewell to Being a Teen.
Senior Prom 2010 is a far cry from my Gunne Sax dress and dinner at The Ramada Inn. Of course, San Francisco is quite a distance from the middle of Pennsylvania, but I sense that all across the county, Senior Proms have amped up the crepe paper and punch bowls. Prom 2.0 is in full swing this spring. And, it’s more than just a dance. more
The College Admissions Race.
Our oldest son is a high school sophomore, so we are still two years away from the college application process, but from what I'm hearing, there is ample reason to start freaking out now. more
The Emotional Blindside.
“Mom, what’s an affair?” asked my 9 yr old daughter after catching a news headline on television about Tiger Woods. “It’s when you have sex with someone you’re not married to,” said her twin brother not even looking up from his homework. “Oh really, when did you become an expert?” I asked, rather curiously. more
Cheating on Homework to Get Ahead in Life.
Has your teenager ever cheated on a test or copied someone else's homework? Chances are much higher than you might think, according to a new documentary, "Race to Nowhere," which explores the academic pressures today's high-schoolers face. more
Raising Cavemen.
As I watch my three boys (ages 9, 5, and 1.5) in their daily routines, I observe natural behavior that is foreign to me, and it seems primal and crass. Fart jokes and nose-picking aside, I am witnessing a deeper construct that is taking hold in their development and I’m concerned. more
