It struck me this week, as I celebrated my birthday while on vacation, how my expectations for both have changed as I’ve gotten older (I’m not sharing my age, but my fun fact: I was born the same day as NFL star Tom Brady). 

As someone who has their toddler on a one-hour-a-day-or-less screentime policy, I didn’t think I would find much helpful information inside, that it would be geared more toward older kids.  Boy, was I wrong. 

The little boy that used to beg me to take him to the playground every day is now a moody teenager who is completely obsessed with technology. Lately he would rather spend his time on his phone or playing video games.  

I’ll be honest… I’ve been going through a rough time with my teens. I’m in the middle of the storm and it’s very unsettling.  

I wondered if I was alone in missing snail mail, so I asked my friends if they missed it too, or whether we were now conditioned to communicating electronically and/or getting nothing but unwanted mail.  I was surprised to find that most of them also wished they found more interesting paper mail.  

What toddler doesn’t like to get their way? But there are a few strategies we use as parents that I believe have helped cultivate a positive disposition. 

It goes without saying that parenting can be exhausting, nerve-wrecking and challenging from time to time. There are also moments where parenting is joyous, filled with laughter and just plain fun.

As parents, we mark milestones. We record our children’s transitions from crawling to walking, from elementary to middle to high school, to getting a driver's license, and onward into adulthood. 

When I tell you I’m a total rookie, I mean I’m a total rookie (my use of the word “rookie” is a good indication of that).