Welcome to PEPTalk! This blog is all about parenting – including tips, great articles and updates on our class offerings. The conversation is for parents and others who want to raise healthy, cooperative, thriving children. Raising children to thrive isn’t easy, especially when those children regularly mess up our plans for their success. We learn the art of parenting from each other, and our PEPTalk blog is here to help—with tips, tools, talk and encouragement—as well as updates about PEP’s many educational programs.
Our bloggers are like our class leaders (many of them are class leaders)—parents who have found at PEP support, inspiration and a sensible road map for the journey. They’ll share their unique perspectives and experiences, connected by their deep commitment to helping you be the parent you want to be. We invite you to join the conversation.
This week I listened to my new favorite podcast, Kelly Corrigan Wonders. She was joined by Wanda Holland Greene to talk about agency, the thoughts and actions we take that express our personal power. The circumstances of these past 8 months may have left many of us feeling as if we have less control, less agency. As Wanda Holland Greene points out, “there’s a lot we can’t control;... read more>>
These days, given the pandemic, chaos in the news and the impending presidential election, it can feel like stress is never-ending. Add onto it the increased responsibilities of working and schooling from home, it can feel like you never get a moment for yourself to calm down. So, we asked our PEP Parent Educators how they de-stress in times like these in the hopes that some of their wisdom can help you cope with everything that’s going on.... read more>>
Five-year-old Miriam watches the ice skaters twirling on the television screen during an international competition. “I want ice skates for my birthday! I’m going to be an ice skater like that, too!” Ten-year-old Marcus grumbles about doing his homework and complains that school isn’t teaching him anything useful. “I’m going to be a race car driver when I grow up, so I don’t need to know anything about this dumb American Revolution stuff.” Fifteen-year-old Soraya lives,... read more>>
When we published The Family Gap Plan blog post back in April, I’m not sure we realized that six months later the pandemic would still be with us. That post was based on an idea shared on the Brené Brown podcast, Unlocking Us. Sadly, the main elements of that post are still accurate: We Have Collectively Hit Weary It’s Not a Sprint,... read more>>
Perhaps you have seen the viral video of the toddler who liberally applied permanent Sharpie markers to himself and then to his sibling? Or the mischievous tot who dusted the entire kitchen and himself in a fine layer of flour? Do you ever wonder how their moms reacted before they picked up the smartphone to capture the event on camera? Did they lose their tempers? Or maybe it was Dad who first encountered the chaos.... read more>>
This time in our lives is fraught with sadness, fear, exhaustion, anger, incredulity — you name it. As a result, it’s easy to become short-tempered and reactive, even with those we love and cherish. In our classes, we often talk about the concept of a “do-over,” as in “Ooof, that sounded harsh; I’m sorry, can I have a do-over?” Hitting the rewind button is important for several reasons: We’re courageously modeling our imperfections;... read more>>
Even before COVID-19 forced the likelihood of online college this fall, many American high school students were considering a pause between walking the stage at graduation and decorating their college dorm rooms. Though still not as common as in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Israel, the number of gap-year students in the U.S. has steadily increased over the past several years. “We tend to be on a fast track in America,” explains Rae Nelson,... read more>>
Lately, life feels like a mobile trying to remain balanced in a (hot and humid) gale-force wind. I’ve been thinking about mobiles as a metaphor for life. Suspended from the ceiling, they artfully demonstrate a balance of forces. Without any outside forces acting on them, mobiles are at rest. But life is rarely that stable, there is always some force at play that impacts our calm and stability. So, too, with a mobile. Because the pieces are connected,... read more>>
Chances are, you don’t always enjoy playing with your child – especially when you are busy, tired or the imagination game she likes to play isn’t your idea of fun. It can be hard to let go of your to-do list and play even for ten minutes. “Playful Parenting is a way to enter a child’s world, on the child’s terms, in order to foster closeness, confidence, and connection.” -Lawrence Cohen,... read more>>
Most American teenagers dream about growing up and moving out of their childhood home after high school, eager to experience the fun and excitement of adult independence. The reality, though, can be quite different. Twenty-first century challenges, including high student debt and housing costs, brought one in four young adults home to live again with their parents. Today’s COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by social quarantine, university closures and high unemployment means that even more young adults are living again with their parents.... read more>>
