Let’s face it; today’s teens have a completely different fashion sense than when we were their age. You really can’t blame them; however, the styles are dictated by the fashion industry experts who seem run the gamut in what they consider trendy clothes for teens. Here are some ways to help you deal with the differing clothing expectations you and your child may have.

How many times have you said to your son or daughter, “You’re not leaving this house wearing THAT.” Probably more than you care to remember. Take comfort in knowing you are not the only parent who is dealing with spiked colored hair and outrageous clothing, from mini skirts and shorts to low-cut jeans and jeans which hang off the hips.

This is a different world than when we were teens, and the clothes today are meant to reflect ones individuality. Honestly, it’s not a bad thing. It is certainly better than what we had to wear. In fact, we didn’t have the wherewithal to express ourselves in a fashion sense. If we did, we were considered out of the norm and grouped with the hippies and the beat generation.

When you see your teen wearing clothes that make you cringe, take a deep breath and try to compromise so that both of you are happy with the final result. The importance of gentle persuasion can alleviate your teen feeling self-conscious and ultimately lose self-esteem.

Celebrate the fact that your teen is different, but at the same time work with your teen to find a solution that both of you can live with. The mindset of the baby boomer generation is quite different than our parents. Baby boomers with teens are a bit more tolerant as far as fashion is concerned. Nonetheless, some teens can go a bit overboard especially when they are exposed to TV personalities whose children wear clothes and hairstyles even you as a parent find abhorrent.

The next time your teen presents an outfit he or she is wearing to school, a family get-together, or whatever the occasion, a few alterations here and there without dissipating the individual style and expression of your teen can be achieved through communication and funky new ideas. While you may not “get” the outfit, remember that you aren’t the issue, your teen is. You are not required to “get” it or understand it. All you can do is to ensure it is somewhat appropriate for the occasion for which it is worn.

Freedom of expression, freedom to voice an opinion, and freedom to choose is a basic right we all have. Your teen needs to feel you not only approve of him or her, but that you support them in their desire to be different. This makes for a higher self-esteem and self-worth. Okay, so you’re not crazy about the outfit; remember, however, you love the person wearing it.

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Returning to school is not easy for kids or their parents. In order to make the process of returning to school easier, you may want to help your child concentrate on the positive aspects of going to school. Here are some tips which can help build your child’s excitement about school.

One of the things you can discuss with your child is they will be able to see their friends again, how much fun they will have, and all of the new things they will learn. If you have a child who exhibits anxiety about returning to school, you can tell him or her that there are other kids feel the same way.

Perhaps a trip to the mall to shop for new outfits will help. This can lift their spirits by allowing them to pick out two or three outfits and shoes for their first day back to school. Another way to improve your child’s spirit is to invite other kids over for a day; kids who are classmates and friends who go to other schools as well. In this way, they can talk to each other about school and other things so they can begin the process of re-connecting with, and feeling comfortable about, going back to school.

Prepare your child for the first day by beginning a bedtime regimen a few weeks earlier. This will enable your child to establish a routine for the school days ahead.

If your child is attending school for the first time, find out if there is another child in the neighborhood who is also attending the same school. In this way, they can go together whether it’s by bus or within walking distance. Having someone to go to school with can ease the tension and anxiety for both children.

Most children will feel anxious and down about their first day back to school. While it is a normal occurrence, it can also be an exciting time for them. Teachers also understand the difficulties of returning to school, and they also take extreme care to ensure every child is made to feel comfortable on their first day back.

Pick up your Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Are you trying to decide if you should allow your child to participate in a sports program? Here are a few things you may want to consider before making your decision.

Visit any park on any weekend in your city and you will find little leaguers playing a game of baseball. This activity is the catalyst for high school sports becoming so popular all around the country and the world.

Turn on any cable station and you will be able to watch little leaguers from all over the world compete in championship baseball. In addition, it’s wonderful to see girls becoming more involved in sports activities due to the women who have paved the way for young girls to participate and become part of national sports events.

High school sports are no exception. With teens becoming more involved in different sports activities in middle schools, the natural tendency is to carry their love of the sport over to their high school and college years.

This was never more evidenced than the recent Women’s College Softball World Series hosted on cable a few weeks ago. It was more than exciting to watch these young women participate and, in a sense, become recognized as true sports heroes. In addition, the sport itself has grown in leaps and bounds due to the persistence of parents, coaches, and colleges around the country.

All one had to do was look among the crowd and scores of little girls were cheering their team on to victory. Some as young as 4 or 5 had their face painted with the schools logo.

Men’s College Baseball is also available on cable, and this too is a direct result of high school coaches as well as education departments throughout the country who continue to fund and provide needed support for our high school sports teams.

While the Olympics has garnered much attention for girls and boys to pursue a career in a chosen sport, it is the environment within the schools in our country that foster sports programs to enable every student to have the opportunity to participate.

Pick up your Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.