April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
This month is Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAPM). CAPM is organized and promoted by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (AYCF), which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Mayo Clinic defines child abuse as “any intentional harm or mistreatment to a child under 18”. This can include physical […]
How to Parent a Young Activist
by Toby LaPlant Political engagement isn’t just for people above the voting age. Some of the most vocal and respected leaders of efforts to change public policy on education, climate change, LGBTQ rights, and more are people in their teens. Young people like Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Gavin Grimm have addressed governments, organized protests, […]
Is My Teen A Stalker? How Can I Tell?
This subject is tricky. Stalking is a very real and potentially dangerous pattern of activity that often escalates from behaviors such as excessive phoning or texting to surveillance, threats, intimidation, property damage, violence, and in some cases, even sexual assault and murder. Studies on stalking predominantly focus on the victims, and rightly so: they’re victims […]
Five Steps to Take if You’re Being Stalked
The first thing to know is that stalking is a crime in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and on all Federal land. Here’s the legal definition of stalking: “A pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.” If someone is calling, texting, showing up, posting […]
What Happens if My Teenager Gets a DUI in California?
The list of things parents worry about seems endless. When kids are young, the worries are fundamental. You’re preoccupied with covering the basics like food, clothing, and shelter. You make sure your babies get plenty of hugs and kisses. Your concerns keep pace alongside them as they grow: you want them to make friends in […]
My Teen Was Arrested – Is Her Life Over?
Every parent of teenagers knows adolescence can be a turbulent time. Most teenagers go through a period when they push boundaries, test limits, and experiment with risky behaviors. Not all of them are rebellious, but almost all of them dabble in things they know they shouldn’t. Parents, especially in the 21st century, tend to tolerate […]