The Carmel Valley Life | Author Archives

Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

August 24, 2017 No Comment

In the old days, it used to only be that hard-working and dedicated high school student who was sleep-deprived trying to fit everything in to make their college application look as spiffy as possible, but no longer. Due to the increased pressures of school and education, guilt-ridden working parents who have trouble saying “no”, I-pods, […]

Letting Your Child Win

July 27, 2017 No Comment

When you play with your kids, do you let them win? If your kid is under the age of 10, you should really consider letting your child win. Children between the ages of 4 and 10, are obsessed with the concepts of winning, losing, and fairness. After all, growing up means giving up all sorts of childhood […]

Post High School Graduation : What to Expect Next

June 27, 2017 No Comment

Post High School Graduation and what should you expect next. Many High School Seniors will graduate either this week or next. Then, in just a few months, they will be leaving the comfort of their homes, family, and friends to embark upon a new stage in their lives – “the life of college”. On the surface, […]

One To One Time with Kids

June 13, 2017 No Comment

You’ve heard the old saying “quality time” versus “quantity time” haven’t you? Well, when it comes to spending time with kids, this old adage speaks loud and clear. Most invested parents do their best to spend time with their kids and hope that those times together will be cherished moments in the minds of their […]

Entitlement – Entitled Kids & Teens: What to do if…

February 28, 2017 No Comment

Just exactly what is Entitlement? Entitlement is when a child assumes that he or she is deserving of something that they have not earned. In other words, they assume they should receive something for the mere fact of being who they are. Within this paradigm, there is not a relationship, or connection, between good effort […]

Back To School New Year’s Expectations and Resolutions

December 29, 2016 No Comment

If your family is like most, your children and adolescents are still in a state of denial that school begins within the next few days or so given the holiday festivities. As parents however, you are ready for the holidays to end and excited about getting them back into structure and routine. Many parents avoid […]

Are you being “Trashed” by your Teenager ?

December 8, 2016 No Comment

If you are Parenting correctly, then this is likely your Present experience if you are living with a “normal” teenager. Whew! Now that you know it is “normal”, then “why” does his happen? Two basic reasons: First, Immature Brain Development. Yes, it is true. A human brain is not fully developed until the ages of […]

How to Make New Year’s Resolutions Actually Work

January 11, 2016 No Comment

Fifteen year old Billy told his parents that his New Year’s Resolution for 2014 would be to get straight A’s this year in school to better his chances for college admission. Up to this point, Billy had historically struggled in school given some mild learning differences and a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, both of […]

Meaningful Gifts

December 21, 2015 No Comment

With the holidays just around the corner, children and adults alike are struggling to find that “right” gift for a loved one and become concerned with issues such as quantity, quality, degree of personal appreciation, and amount of money available for gift buying in an economy that is tight for many. The giving of a […]

Managing Family Holiday Visits

November 23, 2015 No Comment

Now that the Thanksgiving family holiday is just around the corner and other holidays are coming next month, many are preparing for extended family holiday visits. Although for some the experience is enjoyable and savored, for others it can be a time of stress and conflict. This is due to the fact that earlier conflicts […]

Childhood Obesity Update

October 2, 2013 No Comment

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and for important reasons. Over the past four decades, obesity rates in children and adults have continued to soar and despite numerous attempts to stop the problem, both kids and adults alike continue to both eat poorly and lack proper exercise. Why? Could it be as simple as […]

Getting Your Family “Functional”

September 23, 2013 No Comment

After the long summer months, families have a natural tendency to get out of school-time sync and before you know it, school is back in session and there is an absence in needed structure and organization. Pretty soon, things start to unravel, and a problem such as not turning in assignments, is the dinner table issue. […]