Teens learning to drive is a parent's best dream and worst nightmare! It's the BEST when we don't have to drive them to and from every activity, but it's SO SCARY. I mean, their brains are not fully developed, and we're putting them in charge of a lethal machine. Yikes! 

This week we talk about the steps to getting a driver's license, as well as how to keep your risk-taking teen a little safer. 

• Steps to getting a license
• Scary statistics
• How to help your teen drive more safely

Resources:

• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Teen Driver Source

• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Teen Driving Plan 

• Learner Permit, Zero Fatalities

• 9 Free Apps to Help Your Students Pass Their Driving Exam, Driving School

• Jane E. Brody, Helping Teenagers to Be Safer Drivers, NY Times

• Keep Teen Drivers Safe, CDC 

• Safe Vehicles for Teens, IIHS 

• Parent-Teen Driving Agreement, Health Children Org

• Teen’s Biggest Safety Threat is Sitting on the Driveway, NSC,

• Driving Restrictions for Teen Driver’s By Age in Utah, Utah Gov

As we head into the winter season, we want to talk with our daughters about winter holidays that are celebrated all over the world. Since we come from a Christian background, we decided to focus on other winter holidays besides Christmas. Come join us as we talk about the history, traditions, and messages of each of these holidays. AND, we take up a notch from there and also discuss why our teens need to be exposed to all different cultural traditions. Don't miss it!  

• Winter Holidays Besides Christmas
  • Hanukkah
  • Winter Solstice
  • Kwanzaa
  • Bodhi Day
  • Diwali
• Why we should care about holidays besides our own
• How to be respectful of all cultural holidays

Resources:

• Hanukkah, Chabad.org
• Winter Solstice, history.com
• Winter Solstice, rd.com
• Kwanzaa, Official Kwanzaa Website
• Kwanzaa, History.com
• Bodhi Day, npr.org
• Bodhi Day, Learn Religions
• Diwali, Kids National Geographic
• Jamie Farnsworth Finn, Teachings Teens to Respect Diversity, Today
• Michelle Crouch, Teaching Diversity to Your Kids, Parenting
• Amy L. Eva, 5 Ways to Help Teens Think Beyond Themselves, Greater Good (Berkeley)
• Kathy Sisson, How to Talk to Kids About Cultural Appropriation, The Every Mom
• Arlin Cuncic, What Is Cultural Appropriation, VeryWell

How have we not had this conversation before now?! Why are teenagers sooooo moody! And what in the world can we do about it? 

Join us this week as we have this conversation.

• Why teens are so moody (hint: it's all the brain!)
• How to tell the difference between moodiness and a bigger problem
• What to do about the moodiness. 

This is a great conversation to have with your daughter - she doesn't like being moody either! Help her understand what's going on. 

Resources:

• Dr. Janet Sasson Edgette, Have a Moody Teenager?
• Barbara Poncelet, Very Well Family - Why Teens are Moody (medically review by Ann-Louis Lockhart @dr.annlouise.lockhart) 
• Nikhil Swaminathan, Whatever!: Hormonal Reversal During Puberty Keeps Teens Totally Anxious, Scientific American
• Eliminate WMDs, YouTube
• Moodiness vs. Depression, Dr. Thomas Conover on The Scope (U of U podcast) 
• Katie Bingham Smith, Grown & Flown 
• Elsa Vulliamy, Why are Teenagers So Moody? Independent
• Gia Millar, Is My Teen Depressed or Moody? PsychCentral
• YouTube Video from ASAP Science 
• Debbie Pincus, MS LMHC, 7 Ways to Deal With, Empowering Parents 
• Want to Add Years to Your Life? Stop Complaining. Aha Parenting.