by DrDeb Hirschhorn | May 9, 2008 | Parenting
Here’s an excerpt from a textbook. It’s about a parent who is not in synch with his or her child: “Such a parent would have moments of intrusiveness that appeared to be emotional invasions into the infant’s state of mind. These were generally...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Oct 6, 2006 | Parenting
She sits sullenly looking at the floor. They all do, the teenagers roped into therapy by angry parents. “It isn’t enough that she isn’t doing her homework; it turns out she’s online with boys behind my back,” growls Mrs. Portnoy. “She’s only 14 and I’m scared to death...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Jun 23, 2006 | Parenting
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News “She stands there and sasses me,” the poor young mother cried. “She won’t go to time out. What can I do?” Time out is an effective way to turn behavior in school-age children around, but it must be part of a...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | May 26, 2006 | Parenting
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, p. 15 “I can’t do anything with her,” Mrs. Porter said plaintively, “I am absolutely starting to lose it.” “Starting?” her husband asked with genuine surprise and a roll of the eyeballs. “Listen,” he confided in...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Apr 7, 2006 | Parenting
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, p. 22. My son hunches over that computer day after day and I fear he’ll develop a curvature. “Exercise!” I say and I get the rolled eyeballs. “Where in the world does he get that from?” I wonder. Ha! I know the...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Feb 3, 2006 | Parenting
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION from the Florida Jewish News, pp. 15, 22. Congratulate me! I’m a grandma again. And for those of you who haven’t tried it, I recommend it. Seriously. Heck, adopt a grandchild if you have to. It’s sweet. But, I’ll tell you, I am perplexed...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Jan 5, 2004 | Parenting
Your child is not, technically, a child any more; he or she is 20, over age in a couple of states; past the age of consent in others. But he needs discipline; boy, does he. What do you do? There are two answers to this. One is: You better do it; it’s never too...
by DrDeb Hirschhorn | Jun 8, 2003 | Parenting
The saddest family walked into my room not long ago. The tension in the air was so great, I could hardly breathe. The parents smiled and were quite pleasant as they addressed me and their children, so what was I picking up? The daughter, a teen, had a glum expression...
