Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 426

All My Son Needs to Know About Sex and Being a Good Man

When I was pregnant, and learned I was going to have a boy, my first thought was “Here’s my chance; I can help put a good man out into the world.” Utter hubris, I know. We only have so much control as parents and we often don’t know what we’re doing. I had no idea how I was going to do this, but I knew I was already ahead of the game, since his father was such a good man. When my second son came along four years later, it was my first thought again: another chance.

There are scores of qualiti...

Asperger’s Syndrome: Why Birthdays are Bittersweet

A mom whose 19-year-old son has Asperger’s Syndrome looks back on his birthdays past, remembering early ones with little boys and later ones that were bittersweet.

My heart both rejoices and breaks every year when we celebrate my firstborn’s birthday.

I rejoice when I think back to my son’s earlier birthdays when he was about 4 or 5 years old. Each year he’d pick a new theme for his birthday party, reflecting his current favorite passions. One year, he loved Blue’s Clues. Another year, trains...

When a College Kid Moves into a Rental House: How to Help

Every fall, for the past few years, I’ve embarked on a college tour — like a band tour minus instruments and a decent singing voice— stretching from the Midwest to the Southwest, moving my two sons and my significant other’s sons into their dorms. While the basic dorm set-up requires little more than creatively cramming half a dozen boxes and suitcases stuffed with supplies and clothing into a room the size of a shoebox, moving a college student into a rental house or apartment takes planning...

Maria Shriver Asked For Help and Here’s What She Got

For any parent who has just dropped their last child off in college, this is the beginning of a whole new stage of life. We hasten to call it the “Empty Nest” because family is a rich and changing thing and if your kids are like ours it is more of a Revolving Door nest. Maria Shriver, dropped off her youngest child and asked her millions of followers how best to approach this next stage of parenthood and the wisdom of the crowds rained down.

A preview of what I’ve Been Thinking. Sign up to...

Social Media DOs and DON’Ts for College Freshmen

College Professor in the Technology and Society Department offers advice about social media to college freshman. Top 5 DOs: 1. DO join the social media sites for clubs, intramural sports and other activities.

Online club companion sites are a great way to keep up and stay involved. Most clubs and other groups at college have a social media component. To make the most of the experience, meet people in person and also stay connected to all the latest news, events and discussions.

2. DO check o...

College Essay: Why Weird Topics are Beautiful Things

A high school teacher and writing coach makes the case for why an unusual topic can make a memorable college essay.

“That’s weird.”

In conversation, some people might balk at that response. In college essay writing, “weird” can be a great start. People, especially socially conscious teenagers, try to avoid the label. However, unique interests, like playing the ukulele or collecting antique spoons, often reveal something significant, or at the very least, spark questions. That’s the key—inspir...

What Every Mom Needs to Teach Her Son About Rape

No mother sets out to raise a rapist.

This week a former Stanford University student athlete who was found guilty of three felonies including assault with intent to rape an intoxicated woman and sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object will be released from jail after serving three months of a six-month sentence.

As the mother of three sons, my thoughts turned to the perpetrator’s mother. I shudder to think of how soul crushing it is to be forced to come to terms with...

In My Son’s Empty Room: How Did it Go By So Fast?

My son Seth left home today for his freshman year of college. My wife and I are excited for him, but of course there’s also a sense of loss and sadness. As for Seth, he appears to be experiencing euphoria. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so much as he did while we packed the car this morning.

My wife and our ten-year-old son brought him to school. I didn’t go, because my back and shoulders couldn’t take the seven hour round-trip journey. The price of getting old, I guess. But thanks t...

Job Fair: The 5 Things College Kids Should Do Now to Prepare

Amidst the frenzy of settling back into campus life, one thing college students often overlook is the preparation for an on-campus job fair and the recruiter sessions that begin as early as September. While it might be hard for a student to think about a job or internship for NEXT summer already, they need to schedule a visit to career services early in the fall semester.

When school begins, most students are focused on their new courses, roommates and activities. Some think that if you want...

College Student With Type 1 Diabetes: What I Fear the Most

This is not my first rodeo. Three years ago I dropped my older son off at college with a mix of excitement and sadness. It took a while to get used to him not parked on the living room sofa, listening to his music while he simultaneously played video games and kept up with Facebook and Snapchat. This should have prepared me for round two, but it didn’t.

In a few days, my younger son will move into his freshman dorm. Once again I struggle with all those wild emotions that rage through parental...