Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 327

Should You Allow Your Teen To Take A Gaming System To College?

Teenagers and video gaming. It’s a combination that often brings out the worst in both kids and parents.

Kids, particularly boys, see gaming as a fun hobby, a stress-relief, and an easy way to hang out with friends from the comfort of their own room.

Parents, particularly Moms, usually just don’t get it.

They view the activity as an unhealthy time-suck, one that replaces “important” things like studying, physical exercise, and time spent with family members. As my son moved through his teen y...

College Care Package 101: Avoid These 10 Failures For a Grade A Care Package

Sending a care package to your college kid is one of the easiest ways to make sure they still feel all the love and attention you’re desperately missing showering them with IRL (because nothing says “I miss you” like eight bags of Goldfish crackers). Regardless whether you’re a crafter or a baker (or none of the above), it’s easy to put together a great college care package that will make your child smile. However, it’s just as easy for that care package to become a box of good intentions.

(P...

Why Our Teens Care if We are Happy

As my kids’ summer vacation comes to an end I find myself wanting to soak up every moment with them. I’ve been putting off lunch dates with friends, trying to work when they are busy doing something else and telling myself all the things I do for me, like getting my hair done or talking for hours on the phone with my best friend, can wait until they go back to school.

But it’s been catching up with me and they are noticing.

This past week I’ve been feeling guilty every time I schedule somethi...

7 Things Moms Of Teens Don’t Give A Crap About

If you’ve retired your need to make sure your child always has clean, matching clothes, is wearing a warm coat, and you humiliate them on the daily without caring at all, you are probably the mom of a teen.

Long gone are the days when your main goal in life was to give them comfort and joy at every moment. As a mother of teens, it’s freeing to let go and care less about things that used to feel earth-shattering.

What Moms of Teens No Longer Need to Give a Crap About

1. If they’re wearing a co...

Grown and Flown Style: Transition into Fall

Ahhhh September, my absolute favorite month of the year. The days are warm, the nights are cool.

Not only is it “Back to school” time, but it’s also “Back to me time”. I love shedding my summer skin. New haircut, new denim, new slides or loafers. And always a new little jacket. Overall, I am striving for a perfect minimalist approach, low key and casual.

This season I am also on the hunt for the perfect straight leg jean. I haven’t found them yet but when I do, you will all hear about it!

No...

Avoid These 5 Things When You and Your Teen are on College Tours

When my son, now a rising college senior was in high school, I got banned from his college tours. My oohing, ahhing and opinionated commentary during our first tour led to his request to visit schools alone with his dad. I was somewhat relieved as the prospect of my firstborn leaving the nest was weighing heavily on my mind. I pretended to be offended, yet accommodating, and happily retreated to a blissful state of denial.

But then came the one tour that his dad and I had to divide and conque...

My Biggest Goal in Life is to Raise Kids Who are Aware

I’ve had a lot if goals in my life: when I was 8, I decided I wanted to go to college on Vermont and I did.

I always wanted to be a writer and after crushing some self-doubt and finding my voice, I am.

My dream was to live in the same town I grew up in, have kids and send those kids to the same elementary school I went to; done and done.

But the big one, the goal that has taken the most out of me and will continue to deplete me of all my energy and strip the color right out of my hair is rais...

Success After College Doesn’t Require A Big Name College Degree

I recently went to New York City to see Mean Girls, the new musical on Broadway based on Tina Fey’s 2004 movie of the same name. It was excellent! The music was amazing, the lyrics were hilarious, and the cast was fantastic. I am not surprised it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards this year.

Sitting in the theater before the show began, I read over the Playbill to see what other shows the cast has been in. What caught my attention was not all of the impressive productions the cast has been in b...

What This Campus Recruiter Wants You To Know Might Surprise You

What do campus recruiters look for when they interview college students? How do you set yourself apart from other candidates at school? How can you stand out at a career fair and know what it takes to be selected to get an offer?

We recently met with a recruiter from a Big-4 global consulting firm that recruits at many universities across the US. We asked him questions that are most concerning to our students and he shared his insights of what he wants to see from college candidates.

The foll...

10 Ways Parents Can Help Their College Freshmen Prepare For Dorm Emergencies

Our SUV pulled out fully packed at 6 am this past Saturday, and by late afternoon we were returning home both physically and emotionally spent. Our daughter’s dorm move-in went great; still, it was quiet at home without her. I fell asleep that night with my iPhone under my pillow and the unfamiliar discomfort of knowing our daughter wouldn’t be safely sleeping under our roof.

The following night we gathered with other parents of new freshman at Barrett Honors College at Arizona State Universi...