Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 311

This New Publix Commercial, “Home For The Holidays,” Will Make College Parents Ugly Cry

The holidays are upon us and many of us are waiting anxiously for our college kids to barge in the front door yelling, “I’m home” just like in the new Publix commercial.

And, for those of us who sent our first kids off to college this fall, it can feel like an eternity as we count down the days to having all of our kids and family under one roof, even if it’s just for a few days.

In the buildup to the big reunion with our college kids, moms and dads everywhere are day dreaming about the speci...

5 Things I Stopped Worrying About As A Mom Of Teens

Yes, being a mother to teens is angst-y and in many ways much harder than when they were toddling around but there is a flip side– being a teen mom also means you get to give the middle finger to things you used to worry about, or drive you up a wall, because you’ve bought yourself a ticket to “You are old enough to fend for yourself and I’ve decided to pass the torch” town. I mean, if my kids are comfortable with being uncomfortable (willingly) then I can master that feeling, too.

Some thing...

Dear Kids, You Might Not Find Your People Until You Go To College

Hi Kids,

It’s me, your mother. I know you hate it when I tell you about my teenage years considering I went through them last century. I also know you think I’m too old and forgetful and not really up on the terminology so what could I possible contribute to your social life.

So much has changed since I was in high school and college in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, and I get that you don’t really want to listen to what I have to say.

But you should—not just because you should always listen to you...

Our Favorite New Brands You May Not Have Heard of: Holiday Shopping, 2018

We love buying holiday gifts for our families and friends but dread getting the same old, same old. Sure our kids are probably getting socks and underwear (would we even be moms if they weren’t) but they are young and a whole lot trendier than we are so we’re looking for some new places for gifts that might surprise.

Shop G&F Amazon Favorites Here

Note: We receive compensation from purchases made through some of the links in this post.  Thanks! 

Favorite New Brands

Everlane is an online store...

Notre Dame Students Petition for Campus Wi-Fi to Filter Out Pornography

All across the country, colleges and universities have made consistent efforts in the past several years to reduce all forms of sexual misconduct on their campuses. Students are typically required to attend informative interventions and lectures about such misconduct during their freshman orientation, and with a renewed awareness of sexual harassment, sexism, and sexual assault on their campuses (as well as the #metoo movement), our young people have becoming surprisingly and strikingly vigil...

It’s Still Possible for Teenagers to Play Sports Just For Fun, Right?

I saw a sign recently in a local park that was advertising a soccer league for three-year olds. I had to do a double take, because surely there doesn’t exist an organized soccer league for toddlers, the majority of whom are likely still pooping in their own pants. But I was wrong, because it was for three-year olds, and as entertaining as it would be to watch almost babies cluelessly stumble across a field trying to make contact with a large ball, it’s also the reason why organized sporting l...

Parenting Your Teen Who Didn’t Go Off To College

Between the exuberant social media posts detailing college acceptances in the spring and the tearful ones as parents drop their freshmen off in the fall, it’s clear that the transition to parenting college kids is a doozy. Some say it is the biggest parenting challenge they’ve assumed so far.

What of the families whose kids stay home after high school, though? Whether they have decided to take a gap year (or several), live at home while attending college, or move right into a full-time job, h...

The Hidden Costs of Applying To College Can Be Surprising

Some unknowns are fun, like riding a roller coaster or going to watch your favorite team play. But the unknowns during the college discovery process can be more stressful than exciting. Take it from me. I’ve been there with our daughter who is applying to schools right now.

One the biggest mysteries during this time is the cost of applying to college. Preparing for these expenses by considering the fixed and variable costs can help you set priorities during a time of too many voices and choic...

Tell Your Teens That Grades Are Not the Only Measure of Success

When my daughter entered kindergarten, she was a great reader. During her parent-teacher conference, her teacher praised her and told us she was doing “first grade stuff.” I was proud of her, and given the way she sat up straighter and tightened her two sweet hands that were folded together I could tell she was proud too.

She continued to be a great reader and get good marks in school until she entered second grade: her grades started slipping and her teacher became concerned that she was che...

Here’s Why I’ve Stopped Looking At My Teen’s Grades Online

When I first logged into PowerSchool, the portal used by our district, I marveled at the sudden windfall of information about my child’s academic life.

In the beginning, I carefully monitored every assignment from my phone or computer. I even turned on notifications, so each time a new grade was uploaded, my phone announced its presence.

Oop, he just finished his vocab test. Oh, the geometry grades are in. There’s that social studies project.

I’m not a helicopter parent, I swear. I actually p...