The Carmel Valley Life | Archive | Your Family Matters

Managing College Rejection Letters

When 17 year-old Fred received his third rejection letter from the total of ten universities he had applied to for next year, he began to really worry. He has spent his last two years of high school taking very difficult classes, including many AP (Advanced Placement) classes, in order to raise his GPA (Grade Point […]

April 23, 2019 / No Comment / Read More

Successful Family Spring Vacations

March 26, 2019 No Comment

In a matter of weeks the kids go on spring break and some Carmel Valley families will decide to go on vacation. But, anyone who has kids knows that if you really don’t know what makes them “tick” and keep their interests, then any well-intended trip will likely fall flat on its face and one […]

Getting Kids To Listen To You

February 21, 2019 No Comment

As all parents, we are familiar with our children once they begin to speak to challenge our authority as they attempt to become separate and independent from us, which is a healthy and natural process. I have never met a parent however, who enjoys when their child does not listen or follow directions even if […]

Selecting a Guardian for Your Children

February 12, 2019 No Comment

The birth of a child is an important time to begin your estate planning, if you haven’t already. Not only will you want to plan and protect your child’s inheritance, but of more concern may be deciding who could care for your child when you are unable to and incapacitated, or if you’ve passed away […]

Getting Your Kids Back “Into” School After The Holidays

January 10, 2019 No Comment

If your Carmel Valley family is like most, your children and adolescents are still in a state of denial that school will be beginning again 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 the concept of talking […]

Thanksgiving Edition: Teaching Kids to be Thankful & Caring

November 22, 2018 No Comment

As strange as it may seem, children are not born automatically to care about others. In fact, because humans are the only form of animal that is fully dependent on their caregivers at birth, it is only after a child takes in what it means to be cared for from the outside, that they can […]

Halloween Guidelines For Parents With Kids

October 23, 2018 No Comment

It’s that time of the year again where most kids are busy daydreaming about getting ready for another Halloween. Dressing up, decorating the house, and making things “spooky” is all in the October weeks prior to the “big day”. However, the spirit of Halloween can be both a fun or scary experience depending upon certain […]

Holiday Gift Giving

October 31, 2017 1 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 […]

Keeping Kids Busy with Holidays Activities

October 24, 2017 No Comment

Listen up parents, if your kids get bored over the upcoming Holiday vacation, things could get rough. However, some simple things you can do will not only make the Holiday time for enjoyable for them, but also for you with Holiday activities. Although many children complain about school work, the social benefits of the school […]

Halloween Tips for Parents

October 5, 2017 No Comment

Halloween Tips It’s that time of the year again where most kids in the community of Carmel Valley San Diego are busy daydreaming about getting ready for another Halloween. Dressing up, decorating the house, and making things “spooky” is all in the October weeks prior to the “big day”. However, the spirit of Halloween can […]

Anxious Parents = Anxious Children

September 28, 2017 No Comment

When parents get anxious, children get anxious. It’s really that simple. That old adage of “take care of yourself, before trying to take care of others”, applies to parenting as well. After all, most invested parents in the community of Carmel Valley San Diego will state that parenting is the most important, rewarding, yet most […]

Adolescent Attitudes

September 21, 2017 No Comment

Attitude (def): Often a parent’s worst nightmare. Evidence of an “attitude” begins as early as 2 years of age and remains intact through ages 16 to 17 frequently manifesting when a child or adolescent is feeling thwarted, is in a bad mood, tired, or when interrupted of refrained from an activity of their choice. Many […]