Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 443

4 Things Grown Sons Want Their Moms to Know

After watching my mother and one of her friends write their way around the mommy-blogging circuit, I had a realization: mothers are under the misapprehension that there is some reason that their grown sons are not communicating with them. Rest assured, we’re typically not keeping anything particularly important from you. After all, a significant portion of my day is usually spent texting dumb jokes to my friends, planning the optimal time to go to Chipotle, and staring at walls.

I was hoping...

What I Never Imagined Saying to My Teens

One day long ago, watching my four-year-old nephew careen through his back yard at full speed, I heard my brother say, “Buddy? Remember how you have to keep your eyes open when you run?” He then turned to me and shook his head, the phrase “I never thought I’d have to say that” hanging unspoken between us. Fast forward to my life as a mom of two high school daughters and those same words – “I never thought I’d have to say that” – runs through my head as I talk to my teens .

Here’s a little ta...

First Job and Graduation Gifts: 20 Favorite Ideas

Want to give your college student a hand in making the transition from student to young professional? Here are twenty ideas that are perfect for first jobs and make great graduation gifts, too!

For the parents of college seniors, a huge hat tip to you, as your kids near the end of their academic finish lines. While you make plans for the big day and begin to think about graduation gifts, your offspring are turning their sights to life after college and working in a first job. For those with y...

Graduation Gifts and First Job Provisions: 20 Favorite Ideas

Want to give your college student a hand in making the transition from student to young professional? Here are twenty ideas that are perfect for first jobs and make great graduation gifts, too!

For the parents of college seniors, a huge hat tip to you, as your kids near the end of their academic finish lines. While you make plans for the big day and begin to think about graduation gifts, your offspring are turning their sights to life after college and working in a first job. For those with y...

College Tour: Why Parents Should Be Seen and Not Heard

College tours can be an exciting times for parents and teens. Life’s next stage is coming into focus and it is hard not to feel the thrill of watching your kid stand on the doorstep of adult life. But this can also be a confusing time as families take one college tour after another and quickly feel overwhelmed with options and information.

The key to getting the most out of a college tour is for teens to stay organized and true to their own interests and instincts. To help here are a few tip...

Binge Drinking: The Unique Danger to Teen Brains

When we pack our kids off to college, it’s easy to imagine them pursuing the academic side of school life. But thinking of teens in full party mode, pounding shots and chugging beers, can be the source of much parental anxiety. Alcohol abuse and binge drinking (consuming four – five drinks in about two hours) peaks during the college years, according to Dr. Frances E. Jensen, chair of the neurology department at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and co-author of The...

College Applications: When It’s Time for Your Kid to Decide

I went into my son’s senior year in high school with a silent, steadfast vow that I would not partake in the insanity surrounding college applications. I would not allow my clear thinking to be muddied by the madness of the crowd. In the end, of course, that proved easier said then done.

After my son was deferred from his early decision school we were on tenterhooks waiting to hear from the half-dozen or so schools to which he had applied. Even though my son is a kid who had never missed a d...

Underage Drinking: When You Find Out Your Kid Hosted the Party

When a couple decides to let their high school senior daughter stay home alone one weekend, they reminded her of the rule – no underage drinking at their home! Here’s what happened:

My first child is a high school senior. Lately, I’ve been overcome by anxiety over all the things I still want to teacher her before she leaves for college. So when the opportunity arose for my husband and I to visit friends out of town, we decided it would be a good idea to leave our older daughter at home alone....

How to Help Your College Kid Avoid the Freshman 15

Students face a unique challenge when it comes to staying healthy, maintaining fitness, and avoiding the freshman 15 in college. Those of us who look back fondly at our own college days will tell you that it is the land of the all-nighters, studying, hanging out with friends, parties, and reveling in independence. Learning to manage time, maintain a schedule, and practice healthy habits can sometimes be overwhelming. Unfortunately, the first thing to go is often exercise.

For years, we have...

Is There More to a Teen’s Messy Room Than the Mess?

Several months ago, I saw a photo on Facebook of a teen’s messy room. It belonged to a college student home for a short winter break and her mom was asking friends for their advice. Most people commented that she should follow the wisdom of Princess Elsa in Frozen and “Let it go” so she could enjoy a peaceful, argument free visit with her daughter.

The picture and the comments resonated with me. When kids are small, parents try to instill in them a sense of independence and responsibility. P...