#DadChat Talks #Teens This Week

 

#DadChat is again taking on teens Thursday, March 15 – from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. PST – with co-hosts @Josepf and @Milaspage. The homework is the There IS Hope column about one parent’s journey with one teen and – for the time being – the happy ending. Yes, “There IS Hope” with your teens.

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Parents ARE Only As Happy As Their Least Happiest Child

I was walking with a good friend who shared the ongoing problems he and his wife were having with one of their children.  It was a serious problem.  It was clear, on his face and demeanor, how troubled he was.  I know him well and I know he is a good parent, an attentive one, a caring one, and a smart one.  Yet, nothing they seem to do is helping with this one particular child, a young adult really, and it was clear that this situation was at risk of consuming their lives.

That old saying: parents are only as happy as their least happiest child, occurred to me when this friend was telling me the latest drama from their kid.  I wanted to offer a solution, but knowing everything he and his wife have already tried, all I could offer was solace and gentle concern that they may be allowing their child to damage their other immediate family relationships.  Sadly, he agreed.

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Radio Show – I Miss My Best Friend

Radio Show – I Miss My Best Friend

First air date: Thursday, October 28, 2010

Featured guests:

Jim Scheinberg (North Pier Fiduciary Management) for “Family Financial Matters”

Wayne Levine (BetterMen.org) for “The Men’s Room”

Bryce Zabel talking about his book “A.D. After Disclosure” (AfterDisclosure.Com and KeyHolePublishing.com)

Julie Spira (CyberDatingExpert) for “Single Parent Dating”

The column referenced is, “I Miss My Best Friend.”
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R E S P E C T — Find Out What It Means to Me

Respect.  Isn’t that really all parents want from their kids?  Isn’t it about the hardest thing to actually teach them to do–treat us with respect?  I struggle with this a great deal due to the way my two teenage boys sometimes speak to me, respond to a request, and generally behave.  It is not with much respect, at times, and I don’t like it.

Aretha had the biggest hit with her rendition of “Respect” though it was originally performed by Otis Redding in 1965 (here’s a link to a great video of her performing it in 1968).  Some of the lyrics to that classic song resonant for me on this topic: “All I’m askin’ for is a little respect,” and “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.”
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Radio Show – The Family Dinner with SPECIAL Guests

Radio Show – The Family Dinner with SPECIAL Guests

First air date: Thursday, September 23, 2010

Featured guests:

Special Guest Kimberley Blaine (TheGoToMom) discussing her new book, The Go-To Mom’s Parents’ Guide to Emotion Coaching Young Children

Wayne Levine (BetterMen.Org) for “The Men’s Room”

Jeff Pulver (#140conf and @jeffpulver) for “Teen Rap”

Julie Spira (CyberDatingExpert) for “Single Parent Dating”

The column referenced is, “The Family Dinner.”
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The Family Dinner

A Dad’s Point-of-View, by Bruce Sallan

The Family Dinner

I had a discussion with some other dads the other day about “the family dinner.”  To my surprise, many of these men described their family eating adventures as just that, an adventure.  Or, more specifically: a circus, trial, ordeal, and other pejoratives.

My immediate thought was about the classic image of Norman Rockwell’s painting, “Freedom From Want” with the image of “mom” or “grandma” presenting the turkey at what is likely a Thanksgiving dinner, with the whole family eager, excited, and present.  “Dad” or “grandpa” is looking on, with the expectation that he will carve the bird.  How quaint; how lovely; how sadly antiquated, I fear.
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Radio Show – Life–Wait a Minute and It Will Change!

First air date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Featured guests:

Bill McLeod (singleparentstown.com) discussing his new book, “99 Tips That Every Single Parent Must Have”

Wayne Levine (BetterMen.Org) for “The Men’s Room”

Bruce Sallan rambling and doing “Teen Rap”

Julie Spira (Cyber Dating Expert) for “Single Parenting Dating”

The column referenced is,“Life–Wait a Minute and It Will Change.”
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