There’s a calendar date parents of Oppositional Defiant kids often cling to: the 18th Birthday. That magical day when your child becomes an adult and you are no longer responsible for him — at least not legally. Sure, you’ll still be his parent. But things will be different! No more power struggles, disrespect or refusal... Read more »
Many parents today are faced with a dilemma: How do I support my adult child in becoming independent? Do I let my adult child live in my home while they struggle to find a job? These parents think: "The economy is bad…maybe there really are no jobs out there. Should I continue paying for things... Read more »
Many parents want to know how to manage anger in their children. Maybe your child acts out and is belligerent, and you’re at a loss to help him control those feelings. Not only is it upsetting to see, it impacts the entire family. But here’s the truth: Whenever we want to manage someone else’s feelings, particularly... Read more »
This article is the first in a 3-part series by Kim Abraham, LMSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, LMSW on the growing problem of adult children living at home. Are you one of the millions of frustrated, exhausted parents whose unmotivated adult child still lives at home with you? Like many in this situation, you might be feeling... Read more »
Many parents spend enormous amounts of energy lecturing their kids about the importance of being responsible. Often to no avail. Despite the lectures, your kid still won’t clean their room, empty the dishwasher, complete their homework, or apologize to their little brother. To your child, it probably just sounds like nagging. And for good reason.... Read more »
Has your oppositional, defiant child’s behavior escalated to the point where he’s using physical force against you—or do you fear that he might? Kim Abraham and Marney Studaker-Cordner have worked with parents of kids with Oppositional Defiant Disorder for 20 years—and Kim is the parent of an adult child with ODD. In this article, they... Read more »
When you catch your child in a lie, it's natural to feel betrayed, hurt, angry, and frustrated. But here's the truth: lying is a normal child behavior problem. It needs to be addressed, but for most kids, it's not a character flaw, and it's not an issue of morality. Instead, lying is the immature and ineffective... Read more »
Have you found yourself asking the question, “Why is my child always so angry at me?” Do you feel like your adolescent surrounds himself or herself with a force field of anger and hostility? In this article, James Lehman, creator of The Total Transformation® child behavior program, discusses anger, hostility, and your child. Understanding Anger and... Read more »
“I’m not allowed to bring Ben to play group anymore,” said Sarah, whose son is now five years old. “The last time we went, he bit another boy who was playing with a truck Ben wanted. And the time before that, he hit a little girl across the face. I try to tell him 'no'... Read more »
This is the third and final installment in a three-part series of articles by James Lehman, MSW, on the difficult topic of adult children living at home. In this segment, James addresses the issue of setting up a living agreement with your child. For those parents who haven’t set up a structured agreement when their child... Read more »