It’s been a busy few weeks of writing for me, which makes my heart happy. I wanted to share with you a few recent articles I’ve had published around the web and share some of what we’ve been up to.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s been a bit stressful, and I wrote about one reason why\u00a0on Reality Moms<\/h4>\n

The Call No Parent Wants: There\u2019s a Gun at School<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“At the other end of the line, I heard the principal\u2019s measured voice on a recorded message. The district frequently uses robocalls so I relaxed a bit knowing that it wasn\u2019t a call specifically about her.<\/p>\n

Then I heard the word no parent ever wants to hear on a call from school.<\/p>\n

‘Handgun.'”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now that my kid’s a teen, it’s clear in hindsight exactly why it’s so important to talk with kids about healthy habits when they’re young and I shared why on Ask, Listen Learn<\/h4>\n

4 reasons why conversations about alcohol are necessary with tweens<\/a><\/p>\n

“Research shows that parents are the leading influence<\/a> when it comes to kids\u2019 decisions not to drink alcohol. As they sing in the musical Hamilton, \u201cDo not throw away your shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Look at talking early as building a strong foundation for the future, and establishing that your kids can talk to you about anything.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With some states legalizing marijuana, many teens and parents think it’s okay, but I wrote about why that’s not the case in Make It Better<\/h4>\n

What You Need to Know About Your Teen\u2019s Brain on Marijuana<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“Marijuana impacts kids in a very different way than it does adults. The adolescent brain is not fully formed \u2014 and isn\u2019t until one\u2019s mid 20s. Exposing the developing brain to marijuana can have a detrimental effect.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We’ve also been spending a ton of time in the city this fall and I’ve been writing about a few our adventures for Chicago Parent<\/h4>\n

Public art in Chicago that kids will love<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

“2017 is the ‘Year of Public Art’ in Chicago. Visiting these masterpieces with kids can be a ton of fun. Plus, it\u2019s free and a great way to enjoy some outdoor time together, too. Little ones love the colors and shapes; encourage them to let their imaginations run wild and make up stories about what they see. Bigger kids can appreciate the meaning behind many of the works by famous artists they\u2019ve heard of (and they\u2019ll also appreciate the unique Instagram opportunities).”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The 7 best Chicago theater shows that your teens will love to see this fall<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

“The Chicago theater scene is fantastic for audience members of all ages, including tweens and teens. If you\u2019re looking to get them to put their devices down and connect with you, there are some great upcoming productions that both parents and adolescents will love.” (We’ve seen some great shows already and can’t wait for Les Miserables<\/em> in a few weeks!)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You May Also Like:\u00a0<\/strong>Therapists share 10 ways to limit the trauma for kids impacted by natural disaster<\/a><\/p>\n

Prior Post:<\/strong>\u00a0Family review of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown Chicago\/Magnificent Mile<\/a><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss a post! Please subscribe to Between Us Parents\u2019 completely safe, spam-free email list in the box in the top right corner of the page!<\/p>\n

Please like Between Us Parents on Facebook<\/a>.<\/strong> You can also find me on Pinterest<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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