Teenagers are the most protected species on the planet, and some of them know it. They fall under the category of repeat offenders whose nefarious acts of destruction or violence land them no more than a slap on the wrist and a bad reputation. Thanks to the leniency of America's juvenile court system, for many teens, there's no genuine incentive for true reform. In many cases, the system merely represents an induction of sorts for young offenders to familiarize themselves with customizing the details of the law to their advantage. And where is the legal delineation between the teens who …

Talking and texting behind the wheel have been feeding off each other long enough. This is the likely reason for the The National Transportation Safety Board's timely recommendation for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while driving--an excellent decision based on the countless accidents and lives lost to meaningless (or high-stress) conversations on cell phones.  Texting, the apparent root of all evils, may be the catalyst that has launched the decision for recommending a total ban. By degrees, people have begun to think that since they have "mastered" the ability to talk and drive…

The concept of gift-giving at school is on the fringe of excessive. Despite its pervasiveness, there will be classmates who get ignored, forgotten and all but deemed unworthy of a Christmas gift. At least that's how it probably feels to the ungifted. I'm the first to admit, I'm still mad about those pink combs the popular girls gave out when I was in the sixth grade. You know the ones, they had wide handles that looked really cool sticking out of your back pocket. Where was my comb? Why didn't I get one? Surely there was one for me... Fifth and sixth grade seem to be the stand-out years when …

  Constant communication with your teens about the dangers of household drugs is only half of the equation when it comes to cancelling out temptation.  Teens are innately curious, and just like 2-year-olds, what they don't know can hurt them. Consider a teen's heightened sense of adventure when it comes to experimenting with something new such as alcohol and prescription drugs. Regardless of parental supervision or communication, a teen's curiosity is a potent lure to experiencing something different. As parents, we can all imagine how these ingredients created the recipe for disaster …

  It happens every year. First the "Jonses" get their Christmas lights hung, pristine and white, an ethereal symphony of twinkling perfection. And then... the next door neighbors follow suit. Or at least they try, with a hodgepodge of colored lights and decor that looks something like Santa's toy shop gone wild. Lest we have the audacity to judge anyone's display (and we all do!) lets take a look behind the scenes at the planning of both types of displays, from the moment the decorating commences, til' that last string of mini lights finds its way outdoors–a little Christmas miracle in itself…

Despite a solid command of most things culinary, I've definitely had my fair share of mistakes in the kitchen, especially on Thanksgiving Day, when my stunts seem to take on a whole new meaning for the word "disaster." I have made a Thanksgiving fool of myself on more than one occasion, and my family has come to expect it. "What will it be this year?" they ask in a joking tone, but I can detect a scant hint of true concern in the question. They are secretly wondering if we are all going to end up at a Chinese food restaurant because I forgot to defrost the turkey. Well, I'm not alone. There …

If there's anything worse than a selfish child who won't share his toys, it's an adult who won't share his money, refuses to give, and grows old with a stinginess that in the end, leaves him lonely (Scrooge). Giving helps all of us realize that money is essential, not omnipotent.  Show your children you know how to give, but at the same time, show them you know where to give.  This is no plea to give money to those "in need." We're all in perceived need, but it's only because of the paradox of money and satisfaction that exists in each of us. It comes as no surprise that this paradox that has…

Have you ever walked your child to the school bus stop and approached the morning coffee crew of chatty parents feeling like you were the kid sporting last year's back pack? You noticed some of the parents were even drinking tea and you wondered who in the world has time for steeping instead of sleeping so early in the morning? You stood there quietly, hoping the bus would be early for once.  Later, you reason that you didn't have much to say to the other parents because you hadn't brushed your teeth yet. You were still wearing your pajama top with the jeans you threw on–you know, the ones …

I know families who forbid their children to celebrate Halloween or go trick-or- treating for religious reasons. Isn't this ironically "pagan" in our modern society? Call me a rebel, but I think we can safely say none of us are tempting God's providence when we celebrate Halloween. We all know now that evil "spirits" don't actually exist, and there's no reason to believe our children are going to turn to the occult if we allow them to go trick-or-treating. Most of us understand the genesis of Halloween dates back more than 2,000 years ago when the Celts celebrated the end of the year on Nov. …

Don't be impervious to the many signs of domestic abuse that become a way of life for many families. October is National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, and there's something every man can do to help put and end to domestic abuse. Abuse comes in many forms and recognition is the key to getting help and breaking the ties to an abusive relationship. For many women, getting out can be a long complicated process that often results in more abuse and sometimes even death. Georgia was recently ranked 10th in the nation for its alarming rate of men killing women. These statistics tell us it's time to…

If you're in the habit of skimming over the news about CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training, take a closer look–it might just save your family's life. Seconds count when you're waiting for first responders or the paramedics to arrive. If there's a community disaster such as a tornado or hurricane, those seconds often turn into minutes, hours and sometimes even days that can prove deadly. Forsyth County's CERT Training Program is intense, but gives you the skills and assessment abilities you'll need to lend a hand or even try to save lives in the midst of widespread panic. You'll …

Spanking. It's been a staple in many a parenting pantry since the beginning of time. But these days, it seems overrated, outdated and most of all, a weak excuse for not taking the time to get a more meaningful point across to your child. The message spanking often sends is effective in accomplishing two things; degrading your child's self-esteem and making you look like a tyrant who lacks real communication skills. Cultures differ when it comes to the acceptance of spanking children. For example, in Kenya, spanking at school as well as in the home is a common practice. In Thailand, spanking …

Nothing diminishes everyone's sense of neighborhood safety more than an 8-year-old charging full speed ahead through the streets on a golf cart. Even worse, is the striking visual of an adult blowing through a stop sign with a glass of wine in one hand, the steering wheel in the other and a slew of children on the back of the golf cart, feet dangling. No wait, there's something even more dangerous--a mom driving a golf cart with her baby in her lap. (As far as I know, babies don't make good air bags.)  So, here's the law as it pertains to the aforementioned. For mom's who missed out on the …

It happened on a Wednesday afternoon as my son was making the notoriously difficult turn out of West Forsyth High School, onto Drew Road. His ill-timed turn would teach him one of life's biggest lessons--teens really don't know everything, especially when it comes to getting behind the wheel of a car. It was a driver's side impact I'm sure he'll never forget. This was his first accident and luckily, the only thing he lost was his car. The wreckage serves as a reminder that even the "safest" teen drivers lack one essential ingredient that many adult drivers possess after years on the road--…

The new salon trend known as feather extensions has caused a heavy surge and price hike in the market for colorful rooster feathers. This hairstyle trend is popular with tweens and teens, but let's visit the unattended topic of the thousands of roosters being unmercifully slaughtered for this shallow fad. Roosters bred for feather extensions are allowed a one year life span, and killed once their feathers reach the specific length desired for extensions. In most cases, the dead roosters are tossed into a compost pile without a second thought to their pride, dignity or existence. For everyone …

Your child probably holds a social media account such as Facebook, Myspace or Twitter, so you've probably already experienced the classic eye-roll when you tell her she's got to be very careful about what she's posting. Perhaps you've come across a few of your son's posts or tweets that sound less than innocent or friendly, even if he was, "only joking." Teens typically post a plethora of seemingly harmless comments without realizing or caring that these posts are the equivalent to opening a personal journal for all the world to read.   However, potential employers do care and they can access…

Pre-k programs make me think of getting a puppy and taking it to the kennel during the work week. Nobody does that, yet thousands of small children are dropped off at pre-k programs as soon as they turn 4-years-old. Pre-k programs may be a necessity and the smart choice for a single working parent, but by no means are they the catalyst of a successful launch into kindergarten and beyond. It's common knowledge that the first five years of a child's life set the foundation for emotional and intellectual development. Way too many parents are willing to entrust that massive responsibility to a …

Just as the pedophile grooms and conditions his victims, the B4U-ACT group, a pro-pedophile organization, is being criticized for attempting to condition society to tolerate the "special feelings" pedophiles have for minors. The group held a conference in Baltimore on August 17 that included clinicians, researchers and pedophiles talking about pedophilia and how those at risk for acting on their urges can seek real help. But the dominating topic of discussion was the group's intentions of changing the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) classification of pedophilia. B4U-ACT classifies …

Constantly dropping the kids off at lessons and sports activities is not synonymous with parenting. It's only a small part of parenting. It may not always be convenient to stick around and watch your child at a tennis match or a football game, but you're kidding yourself if you think your child doesn't notice when you're not there. Coaches and other parents notice too. Oddly, when parents give us a consistent show of their tail lights as they leave the parking lot, we all feel compelled to give their child extra attention to pick up the slack where mom and dad fall short. Coaches make sure to…

I have learned from first-hand experience that homeschooling children often puts them ahead of the curve in terms of standardized test scores and academic performance. I have also learned first-hand that putting them in school outside the home often keeps them ahead of the curve. When it comes to education inside or outside the home, one is not better than the other. What counts above all else, is your patience and the time and commitment you put into your child's learning experience. There are pros and cons to both homeschooling, public education and private education. Deciding what is best …