Transitioning from middle school to high school can be stressful. Many students express not only nervousness but fear and anxiety about how they will be perceived and what will happen to them at a new school with older teens. Parents also experience their own anxieties about what their children will learn or be exposed to and wonder if their child might be bullied. These are all valid concerns. Here are a few tips to navigate crossing over from middle school to high school.

That's a very important question. Because we are in our homes behind locked doors, it can make us feel a bit invincible. We subconsciously think, no one could know who I really am or where I live, so I can post this comment and there will be no repercussions. It's time to think about internet safety. People can find out more about you than you realize. If you've ever Facebook stalked a friend or family member, it doesn't take long before they casually mention where they wor

Many young people are pressured into sexual activity because they love their partner. It's important to realize that love doesn't mean we always like someone or their choices. What do you do when you are scared that saying "no" could make them no longer love you or leave you? Love means each person cares about the other more than themselves. If someone loves you, then they care how you think and feel. Another part of love is being able to communicate our boundaries to others

Understanding Boundaries Boundaries are everywhere around us—driving lanes that guide traffic, no trespassing signs that set limits, and fences or gates that define space. Each one quietly communicates what is safe, what is allowed, and what is off limits. In the same way, personal boundaries act as your internal instruction manual. They guide how you move through life and relationships, while also signaling to others who you are, what you value, and how you expect to be trea

Do you have butterflies when they walk through the door? are you constantly thinking about them and dreaming about the next time you see them? Could this be love? It might be but how do you know you are ready for a relationship? What is a relationship anyway? We all have relationships of different kinds. We have family relationships, hopefully built on unconditional love. We don't have to do anything to earn that love, it just is. We are there for them and they are there for

Human nature seems to have a bent towards taking the easy way out. What is the short cut, what is the fast track, a simple thing I can do to give me the desired outcome that I want? This isn't a bad thing, we often say "Work smarter, not harder." If you agree with that statement, then it should thrill you to know that there is a simple process to ensure your child has a foundation for success. A recent study conducted by The Institute for Family Studies and corroborated by a

We all pray that someday our teens will meet the man or woman they can spend forever with. Someone who is kind, who we can trust, and that they will be safe with, but how do we ensure they will know that person when they find them? Here are a few things we can do to help. Model healthy behavior - What many people call parenting can seem more like bullying. Using threats, physical punishment as the only method of discipline along with shame and guilt. A child who grows up lik

Allowing teens to spread their wings and knowing when to lean in can be a tricky dance. How can parents know when to give them room to grow or when to provide much needed boundaries? Students who are responsible and seem to be on the right track may tempt parents to allow them more and more freedom. These parents have no thought their child could be dishonest or succumb to teenage pressures. What can a parent do to make sure even their "good kids" have proper boundaries. Det