Welcome!

Family dynamics have changed dramatically over the past decade. It's no secret the divorce rate has never been higher, making single and blended families the norm. It's not uncommon to see a 4-year old with her own laptop, an 8-year old with her own iPhone, or a 16-year old with a new Beemer.

But has all this change been good for our kids? Have we as parents, or grandparents, overcompensated? Have we gone too far? Are we giving our kids too much? Are we doing and giving so much to our kids because we believe it's good for them, or because it's easier for us? Or could it be because of guilt? Are we in some way trying to buy their love?

The complimentary Overindulgence/Hyper-Parenting Checklist will help you determine if this could be a problem for your family.  If you're interested in learning more about these issues, read what one of today's leading parent and teen coaches has to say in her most recent article, Overindulgence and Hyper-Parenting: How we may unintentionally be hurting our kids. Or check out the upcoming teleclasses offered in October.

The problems don't stop with families who have money and who give kids too much in the way of material things. Experts are saying it crosses all borders. Books have been hitting the shelves on overindulgence and hyper-parenting. Professionals who have worked with youth feel such a strong conviction about what they are seeing in their young patients that they have teamed up to write books warning parents to take a look at what's happening today. They're saying that today's teens are more troubled than ever and that they have the highest suicide and depression rate than at any other time in history.

Teens report feeling over-pressured by adults, forced to make decisions they're not ready to make, and feeling unloved.

Experts are taking a serious look at these issues because they're not going away. It's starting earlier and it's affecting far too many kids. Could our parenting style be contributing in some way? The experts believe the answer is yes. They are saying that overindulging and hyper-parenting our kids could be hurting them and that parents are not even aware they're doing it. Some are saying it could be contributing to the serious issues facing children, pre-teens, teens, and even young adults today.

And the pressure is on for teens. They are faced with daily challenges - they are offered drugs and alcohol more today than when we were kids - sometimes on a near-daily basis. How many ways can they say no? What will motivate them to do so? In her recent book, The Price of Privilege, Madeline Levine talked about one of her teen patients who was so depressed she incised the word "empty" on her forearm. One of Isabelle Zehnder's patients was so distraught when his parents divorced that he held up in his room for five years! A teen who felt life just wasn't worth living was spared when she called her school counselors minutes before it was too late. She had taken a bottle of pills and was slowly slipping away. These stories have become too commonplace.

Teens are saying it. They need a strong, stable, and loving home. They need not only quality, but quantity time with their parents.

Learning all you can through reading, teleclasses, talking to others who have been there, and working one-on-one with a coach can help by arming you with new tools and with a new approach in raising your pre-teens and teens.

Isabelle Zehnder is a Certified Family Coach, certified in the Academy of Family Coach Training, Parent as Coach Approach. She believes that respect is at the core of a good parent and child relationship. Learning new listening skills will lead to better understanding. The more you understand your teen the more appreciation you will have for one another. You will learn new ways to support your teen, and as you do, your teen will grow to be responsible and independent!

There is a new movement that is saying to parents slow down, let your kids be kids! There's nothing wrong with kids being involved in sports and other extra-curricular activities.

But when your child is so over-scheduled that he can't enjoy the simple things in life like playing ball or riding a bike, playing with a hulla-hoop or just flying a kite, then it's time to reassess what we as parents are doing.

We all want what's best for our kids. The time to start is now, before it's too late!

Coaching can help!

Call 1-360-723-5253 for more information, or visit www.positivefamilysolutions.com.

Message to parents ...

 Slow down, for yourself and for your child!