Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 332

14 Overprotective Things To Stop Doing Immediately For Your Teen

When you send your kid off to college, there’s no denying it’s excruciating to let go. And while it’s true that physically removing yourself from their body when it’s time to say goodbye is literally painful (and something that still causes me stress four years later), that’s not what I’m talking about. It’s the letting go of the hundreds of things you’ve done for them for the past 18 years that can be excruciating yet vitally important (and even exhilarating).

Recently, a mom in a college pa...

This Is Why I Don’t Push My Teens To Participate In Extracurricular Activities

My son used to play a sport (sometimes two) each season when he was younger. There was a time he enjoyed it and couldn’t get enough. But as he got older, those feelings started to fade.

I’ll never forget one Saturday morning when my son was in the 5th grade and he had an early basketball game. He had been up past his bedtime the night before because he was also on the ski team which met on every Friday evening.

I had to wake him up early in order to be at his 8am game on time and he was throw...

Grown and Flown Summer Style: It’s All About the Stripes

It seems like I can’t walk in to any store right now without diving deep into a glorious sea of stripes – narrow, bold, vertical, horizontal! Striped pants, striped dresses, even striped bags. It’s classic summer style.

I love the whole stripe look plus I believe that right stripe can make me feel lean and long. Here are some of my favorites and many of them are on sale, so click now – you will thank me!

Note: G&F may receive compensation from purchases made through the links in this post bu...

I Used To Judge Moms For Crying At Drop Off But Now I’m That Mom

They are out there. I know you have seen them. Blog posts, Facebook posts, Instagram photos, Tweets and articles all about those upcoming college kids. My Facebook newsfeed is a stream of post after post after post of moms and dads dealing with the whirlwind of emotions as they prepare to send their kids off to college.

I told myself I wouldn’t add to that long list of posts.

I lied.

What I didn’t realize was how much preparing to send my son off to college would consume my every thought and...

Teaching Forgiveness Is The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Kids

It took me a long time to recognize what forgiving someone can do for your soul. I’ve spent most of my life holding onto things I didn’t know I was holding onto for fear I would look weak if I forgave and moved on. After all, how are you supposed to keep someone from hurting you if you aren’t fueled with anger and if you don’t remember every last detail of what happened between the two of you. Without your anger how do  you put up a wall between you and that person to ensure that you never ge...

What My Introverted College Student Wishes Her Professors Understood

The other day, I asked my college sophomore if there was anything she hoped would be different about the upcoming school year as compared with her freshman year. She didn’t even have to think about it. “Yes,” she told me. “I wish my professors would quit picking on the introverts.”

My daughter learned a few things about herself during her first year away at a private university not far from home, and one of those was, as she put it, “I’m just such an introvert.”

She is her mother’s daughte...

Dear Teenagers, Your Grandparents Weren’t Always Old

Today, for the first time, I saw it. It was brief, just a momentary glance between all of you. What was that expression? Amusement? Mild exasperation? Your grandfather was retelling that story again. The one we’ve all heard half a dozen times. The one we heard last Sunday.

It’s sweet how he loves to tell it, to relive the day he took you fishing and he, the expert fisherman, caught nothing while one after the other each of you landed a “real whopper.” To your credit, you laughed and reminisce...

I Love Summer Vacation With My Teens

It’s summer vacation and I’ve been counting down the days for its arrival since Spring Break. No, we don’t have any grand plans, and yes, my kids get on my nerves, but I’ll take a summer vacation with them over having them in school any day of the week.

I’m that mother, the one who loves when my kids are on vacation and I get to soak up every minute with them. I don’t care if we are just hanging out not doing anything spectacular because these days I’m hyper aware of the fact I only have a fe...

Vacationing With Teens Is So Much More Relaxing Than When They Were Younger

At this very moment, I am enjoying a pedicure while my kids are home alone packing their bags for the next few days.

We are leaving for a mini- vacation tomorrow and I realized as soon as I sat down, and dipped my toe in warm water as the scent of lavender crawled up my nostrils, the reason I’m so relaxed has nothing to do with what is about to happen to my feet.

I am in a state of bliss because in less than 24 hours we will be on holiday and I am not running around in a sweaty haze (like I w...

If Your Teen Has Failed Out of College, Consider This Advice

College is not for everyone. A student failing classes in college may be giving you the first indication that the path they are on is not the right path for them. If your teen has failed in college, don’t take it personally and don’t jump to conclusions. How we as parents handle this stressful situation can make all the difference in the world.

Here are a few suggestions if your teen is struggling to keep up in college:

Antonio Guillem/ Shutterstock

It is not your fault.

Your child did not fa...