My daughter cut herself for the first time when she was 12 years old. Today, 11 years later, she is still struggling to overcome this problem. At the time I knew absolutely nothing about "self-harm" and it scared me to death. I was shocked and bewildered that she would do such a thing. It’s important to understand cutting - what it is, who does...

I was intrigued this morning by an article from O, the Oprah Magazine which asked “Bikini or headscarf -- which offers more freedom?” I was raised in England and Canada and my western brain immediately answered “not the head scarf”.  But as I read through the article – one woman’s account of her daughter’s choice to cover up – I...

Money is tight, but you still want to take your family on an exciting vacation! Here are some ideas that won't break the bank. 1. Family camp - Also called "intergenerational camps", to distinguish them from the classic kids' summer camps, they typically have beautiful settings, simple lodgings, meals included (probably in a dining hall), and...

Do too many parents try to live through their kids and put too much pressure on them? I wasn't forced to play sports as a kid. My dad played hockey throughout his young life, up to and including high school. However, not wanting to force me and my brother to follow in his footsteps, he didn't sign us up to play hockey, or any sport, when we were...

I am not one of those people who rejoices in etiquette. I'm someone who avoided a certain person at family reunions for about 15 years because I was certain I had forgotten to send them a thank you card after my wedding.  I'm committed to etiquette enough to feel guilty when I don't do it, but not committed enough to follow through. It's the worst...

When I think back to my freshman year at university, it's surprising that not one of my floormates dropped out of school. For most of us it was our first time living away from home for an extended period of time. Add to our newfound "freedom" (in the sense of lack of restraints) an ample supply of alcohol and sexual liberation and you have a recipe...

Crippling student loan debt. Scary words, but a reality for many students. For some debt is unavoidable. But in many cases the amount of financial burden college and university graduates carry could be reduced with better financial planning. Recently a particularly egregious case was highlighted by the Wall Street Journal: When Michelle...