It’s never easy to handle teens and all that they do, but Dr. Kathy Masarie has some great ideas and tips on how we can all create a relationship with our own teens that will allow us to keep them safe and ourselves sane. She has been through it herself and shares her experiences and talks about others’ who have struggled. It’s time to make this an easier journey.

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Are you preparing for childbirth, or struggling with your kids now? Looking for help? Denise Rennekamp, the Parenting Ed. Program Coordinator at Oregon State University joined Todd and Laura and talked about all of the great parenting programs that are in Oregon. We can never get too much information. It only helps us make the right choice.

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Was your weekend smooth or jagged? Laura reflected on what she felt was a Village Manner weekend. Todd watched college football. Was it too much screen time for the kids or was it good for them? Laura shared scary statistics about kids and tv but also great resources from Kathy Masarie MD that will help keep them on the right path.

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Angele Van Allman of Annalise Wellness Village came in to explain why China and PGE of Portland are so bothered by  Mercury in Retrograde. Find out exactly what that means, plus Laura believes that she never has any expectations when she gets a special day with the boys. After Todd got back in his chair, he explained to her that she was very wrong.

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I was reading a post by Lucas Uren, and I am hoping it was a cut and paste, because while some of the notes did resonate, the last one blew my mind! It is the worst thing you can do for a child.

“Take note of when your kids are behaving well and give them lots of encouragement and praise when they are well behaved. Kids love to be praised and they will soon become addicted to it. So, always give praise when it is due.”

Oh my God! This is HORRIBLE! Don’t get them addicted to that. Then they start doing things for praise rather than because it is the right thing to do. They will search out praise in work, relationships, in everything. They won’t have a spine and will be crushed when they don’t get praise. If you want to treat your children this way, get a damn Dog. They love praise.

Ann DeWitt, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, joined us to talk Sports and Kids. Why are your kids playing sports? What is it teaching them? Good and bad? Is it all really just about relationships? Ann, an athlete herself with two kids puts a new twist on what we should think about when we place our kids into the hands of any sport.

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It was Todd and Laura’s 12th Anniversary this Sunday. What was your favorite Anniversary gift? They didn’t celebrate too hard because they partied hard on Saturday. How do hungover parents handle their kids and what’s your best recipe for alleviating one? And if you are interested in joining Todd and Laura in a Cleanse visit www.replenishpdx.com and sign up.

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Ok, look. This past weekend was our 12th Anniversary. We have two kids and the present we gave each other was a night alone. No noise. No kids. No nothing. Seriously. We went to bed. It was great! We are both still tired, but I actually think I slept through the night without waking up once. But that’s not the real story. It’s what happened on Friday that’s inspired me to write this post.

At the office, Laura and I had just finished the Friday Parenting Unplugged show and were just doing some work when we got a surprise visit from the Fire Department on a routine check of the building for hazards.  After 12 years of marriage and 13+ years together I know my wife pretty well, so I immediately looked at her. I swear she was already drooling. They were wearing blue fire department T-shirts, blue pants and boots. What’s sexy about that? As I gazed at my wife who was oblivious to the fact that I was even in the room, I proclaimed, “Maybe I should just get you a bobblehead doll of one of the guys and you will feel better.” Without missing a beat, she turned to me and said emphatically, “Thanks, but a blow up doll would be much better.”

I nearly hit my head on the desk as I fell out of my chair in hysterics. Seriously, I don’t know what it is about a man in a uniform, but women change. They are no longer your wife, your girlfriend, your friend with benefits, they are a woman on a mission, and we guys are just an empty coke can on the side of the road. Trash!

Fortunately, the guys did their job and left quickly. But I could have sworn as they sauntered past the room we were in, they all peered in at Laura and gave her that look that says, “Anytime you are too hot, call us and we will put out your fire.”

Our Community is growing! Keen Footwear is joining the party and Laura and Todd talked about the Host position that we are looking to fill. Look under Pagatim.fm & Employment on our home page. There you can read more about it, find out what you have to do to apply and send it in. They also talked about a great concert series for families at Kruger’s Farm Market on Sauvie Island.

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Dr. Larry Cohen, author of Playful Parenting joined Laura and Todd to talk about great ways to overcome hurdles with out kids. Roughhousing – Good, Timeouts – Bad. Also, hear about what you can learn from a dog. No more Game Over.

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