Elena watched anxiously from the sidelines, arms wrapped around her chest, as her 8-year-old, Jeremiah, sat down on the soccer field. The referee blew the whistle, the sign to stop play. As the referee and the coach trotted over to Jeremiah, Elena held her breath from her perch on the bleachers, ready to run if
read moreWe all remember when Colorado legalized cannabis for recreational use in 2012, a move that set the path for the legalization of weed in 15 other states, the territory of Guam, and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. You most likely heard on the news that Texas’ neighbor New Mexico joined the movement in April
read moreIt’s been a very long time now that pandemic news has dominated the headlines. First, we went through a phase of some mysterious virus in Asia to the news it had been found right here in the United States. Then we heard it’s similar to the flu, and then we heard detailed stories about people
read moreI used to love to write. I’d write anything. Songs, stories, poems, sometimes even comics. I’m 20 now and the idea of writing gives me discomfort. By discomfort, I mean, it makes me feel vulnerable, naked, exposed and self-conscious. It started like this. In middle school, I won my first poetry contest. Actually, I submitted
read moreLet’s face it, most teens are going to drink before they get out of high school. By 18, 69.4% of teens have tried alcohol and 41.5% drank within the last month, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. As parents, it’s important to carefully handle and recognize the signs of underage drinking. Even one
read moreAnxiety finds all of us at some point or another. For children and teens, this can be even more disruptive to their everyday lives. Teens experience heightened emotions regularly throughout adolescence and while growing up. Today more than ever before, teens are constantly surrounded by their peers whether in person or on their phones. Socially,
read moreAs they grow, children and adolescents learn how to interact with others and to understand their emotions. When these things are taught effectively, they often have a positive impact on their lives. However, some emotions or behaviors can lead to bigger problems with a child’s overall well-being. Roughly 1 in 5 children deals with a
read morePart of being a parent means you are willing to do anything possible to keep your child safe. However, that becomes much more difficult as they get older and the lines of communication are often limited. That is why talking about drugs and alcohol when your children are young and more open to the conversation
read moreMost adults have gone through a time when binge drinking with friends was a fun pastime. Having fun and letting loose before adult life and responsibilities set in. That’s how you’re supposed to spend your teen and college years, isn’t it? Even though underage drinking is considered to be at an all-time low, it is
read moreWhile it’s not always easy to parent a teenager, something that we sometimes forget as parents is that making it through the teenage years is not easy for your child either. The beginning of their hormones growing wild, peer pressure to deal with, and the constant need to grow too quickly. It’s a lot to
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