Clevelanders are never short on criticism for our youth, schools, lack of morals and wise choices made by teens.  Well, here’s something to celebrate!

At a recent workshop, I met Michelle Key with the Ohio State University extension.  Her office is putting together a really awesome teen summit in downtown Cleveland for teens, by teens.  The topics are wide-ranging and sounded extremely valuable covering sex, self-esteem, relationships, cultural diversity and more.  It’s FREE and for all youth ages 13-19.  There are parent sessions too.  Here’s their website link to register.

Let’s stop complaining and get involved!  There are a number of great efforts just like this one that we can get behind and support.  If you don’t have a teen, pass the news on to someone who does.

If you’re a soccer mom or dad, please read Nine Things Parents Don’t Get About Kids and Sport. I was floored by Tip #1 “During car rides to games or practice, kids don’t want you to tell them how to do this or that. Kids are thinking or respond:  “I am not stupid,” or “I know how to play the sport I play.”

Gulp.  Guilty!  Now that our daughter is in travel soccer, we have up to an hour to discuss what she would like to improve and focus on for the day’s game.  She’s polite, but resistant.  Now, in our defense, we don’t set our agenda as hers, but merely ask her what she has chosen to focus on.  Yet, this alone appears to be a tortuous conversation for her.

Tips 2-9 are just as valuable.  If you’re a soccer parent - or parent of any other sport-kid, I’d love to her your feedback.  Do you agree with these tips?

My friend and author Lea Schneider was featured in the Washington Post offering some very helpful tips about getting kids organized for the school year.  I don’t know about you, but it’s been a bit tough adjusting this year since my daughter’s bus comes before 7am.  Organization is definitely the key to having a somewhat peaceful morning and getting her out the door on time.  Lea is a professional organizer and a mom, so her tips are meant for moms in the trenches!

She’s also written some terrific articles to help college students get organized and determine how to pack what really matters.  I’ve posted them on my website for college students at www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com. Check out her latest article, “Packing All Those Clothes!”

I recently had a mom “admit” to me that she had never yelled at or spanked her child as if she was being weak.  But, yelling and spanking are not a sign of control!  Just the opposite.  Adults have lost control if we have to resort to those behaviors.

Some parents want their children to fear them.  But aren’t we really after respect?  Fear does not equal respect.  I have found kids who only fear their parent’s reaction will behave poorly when their parents aren’t around - they are free!  Yet, a child who respects his or her parents eventually transfers that feeling to self-respect.  They make better choices when adults are not around because they respect themselves too much to do otherwise.

What do you think?

School has been back in session for two weeks and I’m still trying to get in the groove.  Right when it feels like we’re adjusting to the new schedule, Labor Day hits!  Now, we have to start all over again.

At least it gave me time to wade through all the new-school year-paperwork.  My daughter’s school has set a reading goal for each child called, “Strive for 25.”  They want each child to read at least 25 books this school year.  That goal really hit me.  How many books do I actually read in a year?

I’m in a book club, but we read about 10 books in year.  I scan a lot of newspapers and magazines, plus do research reading.  My one-year Bible reading plan has admittedly turned into the 1.5-2 year plan.  I’d be hard-pressed to say that I read 25 books a year.  Since parents are the main role models for children when it comes to reading (and everything else), I decided to join my daughter in her goal.

I’ve added one caveat.  Since I spend a lot of time in the car, I’m listening to books on CD.  As long as listening counts in addition to reading, I believe I can do it!  I’m almost done with Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods” about his experience hiking the Appalachian Trail.  It’s time well spent.  Twenty-four more to go.

What are you reading?