Opinion
Helping teens create a life worth living | YES
Teens often turn to self-harming behaviors to cope with difficult and painful emotions. Average statistics indicate that one-in-12…
Patti Skelton-McGougan
Opinion
Stimulants a growing concern for teens | Skelton-McGougan
It has been hard to miss all the attention being given to the legalization of marijuana for adults…
Opinion
Stimulants a growing concern for teens | Skelton-McGougan
It has been hard to miss all the attention being given to the legalization of marijuana for adults…
Opinion
The value in appreciating kids | Parenting
Merriam-Webster defines appreciation as, "To understand the worth or importance of something or someone; to admire and value,…
Opinion
Teenagers and parties: Advice for parents | Parent Talk
Thinking about teenagers and parties is enough to make any parent at least a little nervous. Whether your…
Opinion
It’s time to get serious about bullying | Parent Talk
On Sept 12, another young child committed suicide after being bullied. She was a 12-year-old girl who had…
Opinion
Are you a helicopter parent? | Parent Talk
We all want our children to succeed, but sometimes as parents we can be overly involved in our…
Opinion
New laws give Eastside teens easier access to alcohol | Parent Talk
Every two years in local schools, students complete the state Healthy Youth survey.
Opinion
Issues facing Kirkland teens | Parent Talk
Last month I shared with you some of the drug trends in our local neighborhoods. As alarming as…
Opinion
Is anxiety hereditary?
While the cause of excessive anxiety in kids is uncertain, research suggests there may be a genetic component.…
Opinion
Ensuring an alcohol and drug-free summer for your kids
A recent report by The Partnership at Drugfree.org brings to light a concerning trend among our kids —…
Opinion
Motivating kids to be helpful | Parent Talk
When garbage day rolls around and you have a million other things on your mind, how do you…
Opinion
Helping overachievers manage stress | Parent Talk
There is no doubt that kids today experience more stress. Some of this is simply due to the…
News
When anger gets the best of our kids | Parent Talk
Anger is a natural, healthy emotion like love, sadness, or joy. And like all emotions, anger needs to…
Opinion
The prevalence of teen dating violence | Parent Talk
Most parents are surprised when I talk to them about the prevalence of teen dating violence. According to…
Opinion
Helping your child with grief | Parent Talk
In the past couple of months, we’ve had some very public stories of death, including a Woodinville teacher…
News
Reducing family conflict in the new year | Parent Talk
After the long holiday break, family tensions can reach a boiling point—everyone might be glad that school has…
News
Taking responsibility to stop sexual abuse in children | Parent Talk
One theme that has emerged from the Penn State sexual abuse scandal is the importance of adults taking…
News
Make a plan to improve your parenting skills | Parent Talk
Being a parent is wonderful — but some days, it’s just plain hard.
Life
Prescription drug abuse in teens is on the rise | Parent Talk
As parents, we know the dangers illegal drugs pose to our kids, but few of us recognize some…