On Youth and Teens Today with Vanessa Van Petten

I love holding contests to raise awareness about other bloggers, parents and teens spreading ideas about positive parenting. Last month was the Best Mom Blogs which was a huge success!

I constantly get asked by parents, “as an informed parent, what websites should I read?” And recently, “I want to be able to listen to some podcasts while I drive/clean/work, do you have any suggestions?” I think podcasts are a great way to get current info, gossip, advice, hear interviews from experts and much more, so I really encourage all my readers to take a gander through these podcasts and start listening!

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OMG: (youtube video of the week)

Breaking News

Parents TV Council Attacks Gossip Girl

WSJ: Teens Are Going to Have Trouble Getting Summer Jobs

MSNBC: MySpace Brings Shy Kids Out of Their Shells

Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus is Hurting Disney Image with Racy Pictorial

Articles of Interest

Mandy Moore has a new Social Network to inspire women which I really like called UPumpItUp I made a ‘challenge’ called gratitude, where I challenge other girls to randomly say thanks to family, then friends, then their heroes and then an inspiring stranger.

Salvia is the New Legal Marijuana for Teens?

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“I smoke joints with my kids”

“Don’t worry, just come over and I will buy the alcohol for you, better in my house than on the street”

“My dad took me to my first strip club”

“My mom dresses promiscuously”

I have heard many of these from the kids and parents I work with. I remember and still have friends whose parents party harder than they do! Lets look at the varying levels of partying parents:

1. Sober and Strict:

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This is a great guest post by Linda Sherman of the blog It’s Different for Girls: International Women’s Lifestyles, Work and Empowerment by Linda Sherman.

The question has often been asked, are men more competitive than women? It seems reasonable to believe that generally we are competitive in different areas. Certainly living in different cultures affects our competitive nature. Competition can be defined as related to risk-taking, tendency to choke, versus collaboration etc. Attempts at scientific analysis of the topic are still controversial. There is an oft-quoted 2005 academic study by Muriel Niederle and Lise Vesterlund, this recent attempt from Melissa Lafsky at The New York Times, one on Choking from Slate and a comment from Kate Minaker on the WorldWinner on-line gaming survey.

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This week I have a fabulous blog sponsor: Mia Redrick, the author of “Time for mom-ME.”

It is a realistic, no-nonsense resource for mothers—with lessons and tips for finding time. She gives essential Self-care Strategies for Mothers.

Mia Redrick is a popular speaker and personal coach who is an advocate for mothers who are trying to incorporate balance and self-care into their lives. She is the founder and CEO of Finding Definitions, an authority web community that teaches mothers how to:
• Dream Big
• Live Fully
• Be Healthy
• Personally Grow

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