Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 25

My Daughter’s High School Was Inflating Her Grades. This Has to Stop!

What do school grades measure? Are they a reflection of a student’s ability to memorize facts? Do they validate discipline and hard work? Why do so many people over emphasize them? 

Over the years, I have seen parents focus so much on their child’s accomplishments. When class projects are presented at school, I am amazed how many are obviously not completed by the student. The writing is advanced and the complexity of the physical project is not on par with the current grade level. 

My dau...

Top 12 Dorm Room Essentials for Freshmen

Here are our top 12 things all freshmen need for their college dorm. (Shutterstock Dejan Dundjerski)

The good news is your teen is GOING to college. The bad news is your teen is LEAVING for college. To help them get ready for dorm life, there may be a long list of things they WANT to buy, but here is the short list of what every college student needs to bring with them — the absolute dorm essentials.

To streamline your shopping, we’ve cut straight to the basics and listed only the 12 must-...

My Husband’s Obsession With Our Adult Son’s Career Is Wrecking My Marriage

My kids both played high level competitive sports through their entire youth. My son started at six, playing at least two sports simultaneously all year round. Sometimes three. They often overlapped, took over most weekends and holidays, and helped us find amazing friends who are like family.

Our daughter started around the same age- maybe seven or eight, and played one sport consistently. We navigated the crazy schedules with “divide and conquer” planning, packed cars, and uniform changes si...

Here’s How My Adult Sons Have Not Changed Over the Years

My adult children say that I have a cliche for every occasion. They don’t mean it as a compliment but, nonetheless, I’ll take it as such. Their derision aside, as I watch my sons sprawled out on my couch, limbs akimbo, I can only think, “The more things change the more they stay the same.”   

The more things change, the more they stay the same (Photo credit: Helene Wingens)5 ways my adult sons remind me of their younger selves 1. They still fight

Earlier in the day, when they walke...

Eight Tips for Surviving Summer With Your College Student at Home

A popular meme gushes that mothers sleep better when all the teens are back home under one roof. I bet that meme was created the day those children arrived, or even days before. Because the reality of having college kids invade the nest for a break, summer, or post-graduation can be rocky. The sappiness wears off about two weeks in, leaving parents floundering for harmonious living. Or just survival, honestly. 

Now on my third college boy, I decided to get introspective and share what worked ...

I’m Almost 50 and I Still Need My Mom

My mother once solved a crime. It was a late August morning, a gentle warm rain had left the air thick and humid. My mother, still in her gauzy nightgown, was baking her famous blueberry cupcakes, the ones that were sweet, but never cloying, and would stain your fingertips inky purple when you ate them.

There was a noise on the front porch, where my mom kept a huge turquoise ceramic pot teeming with roses and crape myrtle. Alarmed, but not afraid, she threw on her robe, raced to the door and ...

When Your Child Turns 18 You Need These Legal Documents

Before your 18-year-old heads out the door, ensure that you have the legal documents in place to protect them. Accidents and illnesses happen to everyone, including young adults, and you want to be able to speak to healthcare providers, keep informed and help make decisions for your teen if the need arises. 

Here’s what you need to know when your teen turns 18: There are three forms that facilitate the involvement of a parent (or whomever is designated) in an emergency or other situation.

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My Identity as a Baseball Mom Became One of the Best Pieces of Me

My girlfriends and I are a generation of strength; we are independence seekers who did not set out in life to be labeled with a single moniker of Wife or Mother. Even those of us who took our husband’s name at the altar didn’t stop thinking about our history before we put on the white veil: our personal goals, college degrees, work accomplishments—none of them would be in vain.

But then a baby came along Then maybe one or two more. As our kids got older and found their own passions in life, ...

23 Stylish Dorm Essentials You Can Get at Urban Outfitters

Credit: Urban Outfitters

Going to college is very exciting, but moving into a dorm can be a little daunting. Between the cement walls and limited personal space, it can be hard for your college student to make their dorm room feel like home. However, with a little help from Urban Outfitters dorm accessories, you can help your student express a little bit of their personality in their new space. It’s shockingly a great place to buy dorm stuff.

I put together this list of products by scouri...

Why I Was Wrong to Tell My Daughter to Always Be Kind

“She is awful! I can’t believe she told Becky she didn’t want to work together. That’s so mean!”

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and when I hear this type of comment from teens I’m counseling, I recall a situation twenty years ago that still makes me ponder on the concept of “being kind.”

I had been so self-righteous teaching my own kiddos “to be kind” and “don’t be mean.” What’s wrong with that? But I didn’t consider other subliminal lessons being taught.

Today, bright po...