It seemed so far away: marriage, having family, reaching the “teen” years of time together. Then…poof! It’s there!! I thought people were making up the “time goes fast….” statement. That’s how life works. That’s how time runs. That’s how marriage goes–quickly. Beautifully and…
One of our kids got rejected from their dream college!! Receiving a rejection letter from a student’s preferred college or university can be disheartening. However, there may be many factors in a school's decision to accept or deny an applicant that actually has very little…
When serious allegations surface and you want an independent investigator with experience, it’s common to turn to attorneys and former law enforcement. As a former prosecutor and currently an attorney in private practice, I obviously think that instinct is a good one. But you need…
Yesterday was Groundhog Day, a holiday that, because of one of my favorite movies, has become forever linked with repeating the same day over and over. That’s a familiar sensation to parents. We get tired of repeating ourselves, but we want to try to help…
We seem to be shifting into a new type of society that’s facing our kids. Often our anxieties and fears will hide our views of what opportunities still sit firmly in our hands. We are easily influenced when what we once thought was in our…
The decision to bring in an independent investigator represents a turning point for your organization. You're facing allegations of misconduct that require more than good intentions—they require expertise, objectivity, and an investigative process everyone can trust. …
To become responsible adults, children and teens need freedom, and they need to be encouraged to take reasonable risks and independent responsibilities. At the same time, they need boundaries. It is the primary responsibility and right of parents, with the support of other caring adults,…
There are a few things in life that are unavoidable. Basic human needs, change, and human interactions are a few of these. I’d argue that the relational interactions are close to the top priorities for all levels of our well-being. From value of self, to…
The call comes during afternoon carpool pickup. A parent mentions—almost casually at first—that their daughter said something concerning about a counselor. Or you're reviewing incident reports and notice a pattern you can't ignore. Or an email lands in your inbox with "Urgent: Formal…
Does my kid need to go to college? In my work with families and young adults on their career plans, the question often comes up: “Do I really need to go to college?” As someone who holds four university degrees and one technical college degree,…
January is National Mentoring Month, and January 17 is International Mentoring Day. There’s no doubt that mentoring is an incredibly important resource for children who have suffered trauma, but it can be hard to distinguish good mentoring from predatory grooming. Those of us who parent…
A recent report out of Sacramento demonstrates how the absence of written documentation, particularly with mandated reports, can destroy careers, leave children vulnerable, and create institutional failures—even when everyone involved believes they followed proper procedures. The Investigation’s Conclusions Various staff and youth at a Sacramento…