Easing back-to-school jitters By Mary Jo Rapini

School bells are ringing and kids are everywhere. As you drive slowly through school zones, you can see and feel the excitement in the air. Kids are walking to school, getting out of buses, and being dropped off on the curb. Some of them look excited and are laughing, while others look confused, withdrawn and afraid. Parents have a powerful influence over their child no matter how old their child is in regards to their school-year success. Easing back-to-school jitters is an important step that parents should prepare for and encourage their child to prepare for as well.

"School jitters don't begin the first day of school. Most likely, they were going on during the last third of the summer." 

(RE)Connecting with Your Teen on Spring Break

(RE)Connecting with Your Teen on Spring Break By Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC

Spring break is here and that means family trips. If you're like many parents, you've been busy with your job, your kids' activities, your partner and your aging parents. It's easy to forget that you are raising teens, and taking everyone on a family vacation may be more challenging than you expected. Teens aren't the easiest to travel with. They have an attitude over things that may not have concerned them before; they insult under their breath; and often they melt into screaming, slamming doors and tears. It can make living with them trying, but traveling with them can push you over the edge.