Shopping for teenage boys can be a daunting task but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s for a birthday, holiday, or just because, finding the perfect gift for a teen boy can be a challenge. But fear not! We’ve scoured the internet to find the coolest gifts that are sure to impress any teen boy and turn you into the coolest gift-giver around. Fashion Gifts for Teen Boys Hoodies Hoodies are a popular fashion choice among many teens. They’re comfortable, trendy, and convenient. Many boys wear hoodies instead of jackets which makes this clothing choice multi-functional. We’ve also h ..read more

With a rising high school senior, my family is in the home stretch of college saving and we’re now gearing up for college spending. As excited as I am about them applying to colleges soon, when I imagine paying tuition bills, I get all sweaty and nervous! It helps that when they were young we opened a 529 college savings plan to help cover the costs of their education. A 529 is a state-sponsored investment plan where the money you save is earmarked for education expenses. According to Trisha Good, Interim Executive Director of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, which manages Ohio’s 529 Plan, Co ..read more

I was shopping in the produce section of Whole Foods, when my cell phone rang and I heard my daughter’s breathless voice on the other end of the line. “I got the job,” she said. “He offered it to me and I said yes.” Julianna had just turned 14 and was determined to spend this summer earning income. The list of things she wants the money for is both long term and immediate. She wants the freedom to purchase as much lip gloss as she desires from Forever 21. And she wants to save most of her earnings for the prestigious college she’s determined to get into. In the weeks leading up to her birthday ..read more

Summer 2020 was long, quiet, boring, lonely, and filled with COVID-19 scares. By the time summer 2021 rolled around, I wanted my kids out of my house. I told them, “I don’t care what you do, just get out of your room every day. Go somewhere and get paid.” My 17-year-old daughter whined and complained when I nagged her to fill out job applications. I think she didn’t “hear” me until my 19-year-old son sarcastically lobbed my philosophy at her: “It’s not about earning money, it’s about the experience,”  Well, it was. Some of their friends attended study programs or enjoyed the freedom of un ..read more

When our oldest son, Sam, left for college in August of 2021, his brothers, dad, and I missed him enormously and counted down the days until his return at Thanksgiving. I pictured Sam walking through the front door greeted by warm, teary embraces worthy of a holiday Hallmark commercial. I even imagined maybe, just maybe, I’d receive a few compliments on my cooking, too.  Unfortunately, my vision didn’t align with reality that first homecoming, nor any homecoming since. Yes, there are still hugs and smiles, but what typically happens is this: Sam staggers through the door exhausted from th ..read more

A decade ago, our kids watched Frozen, and we spent the next year listening to them belt out “Let It Go” on repeat. Now, choir teachers in Beachwood, Ohio use that anthem of self acceptance to help teenagers in Ohio let go of their anger and fear. How this all came about is, well, kind of magical. During the pandemic, the choir director for Beachwood schools, Darlene Haight, was attending teaching seminars where the buzz phrase on everyone’s lips was “social-emotional learning.” Why is social-emotional learning important? The idea was to think about how to get students to worry less and choose ..read more

We all know how awkward the teenage years can be. Changing bodies, acne, moods, elevated expectations — it’s a lot to navigate. One small physical difference that sets you apart from your peers can feel catastrophic to a teenager, especially if those peers deem that difference ugly. Worse is when they tease you about it. A patient who came in to see Dr. Philip D. Bomeli at Solon Orthodontics in Solon, Ohio was being teased by her peers because she had a high impacted canine tooth. The kids at school said it made her look like she had fangs. Because of their teasing, she became shy and self-con ..read more

For 20 years, I taught English to over 6000 high school students, and during that time, these are the lessons they taught me about teaching, mentoring, and parenting teens. Information for Parents: 20 Years of Facts About Teens 1. Teenagers respond better to “Are you okay?” than to “What’s wrong?” One is a question of concern; the other implies an error. Preemptively passing judgment closes off your invitation to talk and almost always draws the one-word response, “nothing.” Instead, express concern to get a teenager to talk about their feelings. Try saying, “You don’t seem like yourself today ..read more

I glance at you in the driver’s seat. Your profile has become that of a man since you left for college.  In my heart, though, I see the little boy you once were. We are riding in your battered sedan, heading home from your sophomore year of college. Many of your possessions are jammed in the backseat and trunk, while the rest are in the truck your dad drives behind us. Like most parents of teens, I have come to appreciate car rides as a time when you open up and share with me. Yet, there’s something different about this car ride than just a chance to chat. Maybe it’s the occasion — anothe ..read more

The first pitch bounced once, then twice, before reaching home plate. The next sailed high over the catcher’s outstretched arm, forcing the umpire to duck and move out of the way. The pitcher for St. Timothy’s was, in a word, struggling.  A chilly, light rain fell and fog crept in along the far corners of the outfield grass as the opposing player stood patiently in the batter’s box, watched four pitches, then took first base in a parade of walks.  The top of the first inning finally ended with a gracious assist from the other team’s coach, who, having quickly gotten a read on the tal ..read more