Rosalind Wiseman's Blog, page 62

Taylor Swift, Kim Clijsters, and President Obama: Their Stolen Moments

Rather than rehash the coarse conduct of music stars, athletes, and politicos reaching some new lows this past week, I'd like to point to The Civility Solution (Sept. '09) the sequel to one of my faves, called "Choosing Civility: 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct."

Why? Because we've got major media moments ripe for peeling back a deeper conversation on how this is all landing on youth…

This is 'kidvid' media literacy 101…How to handle 'grace under fire,' lessons of unfairness, and eyewitness ...

Her Boyfriend is a Jerk!

Rosalind answers a question from a guy whose close girl friend is feeling bad about herself after her boyfriend told her she was not pretty. How can he convince her that the guy she cares for was wrong and that she can do better?

Et tu, Ellen?

Color me shocked. Ellen DeGeneres is joining the cast of American Idol judges? The kind, charitable, classy Ellen DeGeneres who regularly raises awareness about bullying? Seriously? Is she lying in a pod somewhere?

Full disclosure: I'm not a regular viewer. Susan Boyle's triumph got me paying closer attention and talking about the show with my students in South Africa, who watch both the SA and American versions.

I was going to post my thoughts on the show closer to its season premiere. But...

Announcing Rosalind's Webinar Series: For Parents & Educators

Registration is now open!

A series of live, interactive Web presentations by Rosalind covering a variety of topics on kids, tweens, and teens — for parents and educators. Pick and choose the sessions you're most interested in, or attend all four! If you can't make the live session, CD recordings will be available for purchase.

Click here to learn more or sign up now!

Topics and Dates

Queen Bees & Wannabes: Navigating the New Realities of Girl World and Boy World
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 –...

Sorry, Kanye: Your Opinion Isn't the Only One That Matters

Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards offered one of the best examples of how power and privilege can be used and abused.

The very first Moonman of the night went to 19-year-old Taylor Swift, who won the award for Best Female Video for her song "You Belong With Me" – topping music powerhouses such as Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and P!nk. As Swift began her acceptance speech, singer Kanye West – apparently upset at the outcome – hijacked Taylor's spotlight: he took...

Whose Hair is it Anyway?

Three nine-year-old girls saved me today–my own little band of wingmen. Why? Because I had a huge fight with my son about the haircut I "made" him get over the weekend. All morning he alternated between fury at me for trying to "control his body" and falling across the couch to moans of "I'm not going to school for a week. There's nothing you can do to make me go!"

Somehow I got him into the car—where I heard more complaining about what a horrible mother I am and how ugly he was with his new h...

Just Because I'm Mad Doesn't Mean It's PMS!

Rosalind answers a question from a girl who hates it when her friends blame girls' anger or emotions about things on getting their periods. Should she chill out or is this actually demeaning?

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs from Teens

Several years ago SMITH Magazine came out with their first enormously successful book of tiny reflections entitled Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. The collection challenged people to tell their story in only six words, inspired by Hemingway's famous response when asked to do just that: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." The popularity of the original books has since inspired submission contests several niche spin-offs on love, motherhood, food, ...

I Broke it Off, Now I Want Him Back!

Rosalind answers a question from a 15-year-old girl who broke up with the guys she was dating because she heard a rumor that he only liked her for her body. However he's sent her some texts that make her think he was actually sincere. Was he really using her or was their relationship ruined by rumor?

Webinar Session Descriptions

Click here to learn more or to register now.

Queen Bees & Wannabes: Navigating the New Realities of Girl World and Boy World
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 – 8-9pm ET
Seven years ago, Rosalind Wiseman's New York Times best-selling book Queen Bees and Wannabes launched readers head-first into Girl World and Boy World — the place where teens face the everyday trials of cliques, frenemies, reputations, gossip, rebellion, bullying, crushes, and relationships. While these issues continue to play out...