Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 313

Now That I Have Teens, I Can Finally Break Up With The Elf On The Shelf

Dear Herbie the Elf,

I feel as though it’s time we had a talk.

Ever since the day you and your weird smile came to us as a gift from my mother and the kids christened you “Herbie Ralph,” I’ve been composing this letter. Come to think of it, I should have known something was up when my mom laughed maniacally as she detailed the Elf on The Shelf myth.

I’ve been unhappy for a very long time and I bet that if you were honest with yourself, you’d admit that you, too, have known for a while that th...

My Prickly Teen Is Teaching Me New Ways To Love

I don’t love my children the same way.

At least, I don’t if “love” is, as I truly believe, more often an action than it is a feeling.

I love—the feeling—both my children fiercely and deeply in equal measure, if a mother’s love is something that can actually be measured.

But I do not love—the action—my children in the same way, because love has to look and sound like something to the person being loved, and my two teens see and hear love in different ways.

My prickly teen is teaching me new wa...

My Kids Are More Independent Now And I Miss Being Needed

My kids are getting old. And I don’t like it.

Wait, that sounded harsh. Lemme try that again.

Now that they’re in college, my kids don’t need me anymore in the same ways they used to and I miss being needed as somebody’s mom.

See, it’s not that I don’t want them to grow up. Of course, I want them to grow up. Like any mom, I want my girls to grow into strong, empowered women, with families of their own someday. I want them to be fiercely independent, to live big, and love passionately, while s...

With Kids In College, Here Are 10 Things I’m Thankful For This Year

It’s Fall, so I’m in Gratitude Mode.

The stores are already bloated with pre-lit Christmas trees and glossy wrapping paper, but I’m shielding my eyes from those harbingers of holiday stress and choosing only to look at the fall-colored table decor, daydreaming about enjoying turkey and stuffing with my kids who will soon be joining us for Thanksgiving.

When your kids are in college, there always seems to be something you can complain about. The astronomical costs of tuition and housing, overp...

Should I Allow My Young Adult To Live At Home?

As a parent coach, I regularly talk to parents who struggle with how much to help their young adults; when to step back and when to step up; when to say yes and when to say nope, I think you can manage that on your own. Full disclosure: I have two young adults living at home right now, so this issue hits close to home for me.

So, do I think it’s OK, or bad or good for a young adult to live with a parent or parents?

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

The decision to allow a young adult to live at home is complic...

Family Game Night: Here is Our Ultimate List of Games

We parents are always searching for ways to spend low-pressure, quality, fun time with our kids especially during the holiday season. And there is no better way to get everyone engaged than a great family friendly game. We made selecting the right game for your family easy with our crowd-sourced list of the ultimate family game night games.

For all our holiday gift ideas, book suggestions and more, check out our Grown and Flown Amazon store here. 

Note: We receive small amounts of compensatio...

Christmas Pajamas for 2018 Holiday Gifts: We Have You Covered (Literally!)

From the time my kids were small, we’ve had a Friday afternoon tradition that I look forward to all week. As soon as both kids walk in the door from school, we all quickly change into our Christmas pajamas and immediately cozy in for a weekend of relaxing.

And, in the winter time, I’d be lying if I said we always waited for Friday to roll around. More often than not, when the days become shorter and the cold wind starts blowing, there’s nothing I love more than a cozy pajama set to curl up in...

The Lessons You Can’t Tell a New Parent

It’s not so funny, how time flies.

This isn’t going to be one of those sentimental, “where did the time go?” essays about how quickly children grow. I won’t be reminding any new parents that “the days are long but the years are short.” As I barrel into the Fall of my oldest child’s senior year in high school, I’ll simply observe that I’m a little sad and slightly baffled that our time together in this particular phase of her life is (already) almost done.

We were heading home from the airport...

In-N-Out Burgers, Squirrels, and a Lazy River: The Surprising Things Teens Think They Need at College

When my son applied to college he fashioned a spreadsheet with the names of the schools along the spine and his “requirements” along the top. One of the most important things to him was that his prospective school be located near a Chipotle because at the time that was the staple of his diet. True story-I couldn’t make it up if I tried.

He also knew for absolute, 100% certainty that he wanted a school where there was little to no Greek life because fraternity life did not appeal to him, until...

Recommendation Sunday: The Top Picks of the Week G&F Parents Loved

Here’s what everyone in the group loved from last Sunday’s Recommendation Sunday post:

10/20/18

Netflix/ TV – Haunting of Hill House, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Brain of Fire, Atypical, user Eye, New Amsterdam, A Million Little Things

Books: The Four Agreements, Better Than Before, Educated

Apps – FAFSA, Next Door, Copy Me That

Experiences: Take a walk in the woods, like to this place:

Take your kids to see bands you enjoyed when you were their age, including Garth Brooks.

Food: All Tr...