by Genevieve Anderson It was standing room only at the Drew School on February 3 – well, balcony room to be precise – with an unprecedented turn-out of men. The theme of the evening, “Being the Rare Adult Teens Listen To”, had clearly touched a nerve with many Bay Area parents, brought an expert counsellor […]
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Breaking through Deadlocks
By Cynthia Klein Imagine you are having a conflict with your child because he won’t do his homework. You are in a deadlock because both of you are determined to win the argument. Your perspective is that it is his homework and he needs to be responsible for getting it done. You shouldn’t have to […]
Neurotic Parents Convene for College Talk (J.D. Rothman)
by Genevieve Anderson The packed theatre at Lick Wilmerding High School erupted in laughter when the speaker JD Rothman asked for a show of hands for how many 9th grade parents were in the audience. After all, the title of her talk that night, as well as her new book, was “The Neurotic Parent’s Guide […]
Where’s the Best Place to Study?
by Robina Riccitiello As another school year is underway, students across San Francisco are well into this year’s round of homework. Pencils sharpened (does anyone write on paper anymore?), laptops and iPads charged, snacks at hand … they are ready to work. The question is where? Some students study at pristine desks in their rooms, […]
It’s Not About the Grades
by Genevieve Anderson Madeline Levine’s second book “Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success” will warm most parents’ hearts. Her first, bestselling book “The Price of Privilege” was a compelling if slightly disheartening read — in it she describes the psychological and emotional fallout of excessive emphasis on scholastic performance and intrusive parenting common […]
Teens Offer Advice at Annual Teen Panel
by Robina Riccitiello Parents can help teens manage stress better by being supportive, not asking about homework every time they see their teens, by letting them stay up late sometimes – because they just have to – and by giving them the occasional day off, according to the San Francisco teens at the Parents’ Coalition’s […]
What’s the word?
Yolo: You only live once. Said before doing something dangerous or after doing something stupid. Used to be a cool expression, now possibly is considered annoying. Rickrolling: The prank of hiding a 1987 video of one-hit wonder Rick Astley singing “Never Gonna Give You Up” behind a seemingly interesting link. Photo-bombing: Waiting until just before […]
What Teachers Wish Parents Knew
by Joy Libby I am lucky to count many teachers as friends, some of whom have taught my own children over the years. There was a clutch of preschool teachers who get in the trenches of the sandbox and have a bottomless well of creativity and there were brave middle school teachers who face hormones […]