Eating Disorders in Teens Have ‘Exploded’ in the Pandemic
I have been hearing so much from parents and teens about body image concerns and eating disorders that cropped up during the pandemic. Please read this important piece by Lisa Damour, which breaks down the current situation, some of the underlying contributors (don't get me started about all the "wellness" messages on social media that are anything but "well"), and what parents can do.
Sports Parenting Through the Pandemic
Recently, I had the pleasure of teaming up with friend and peak performance coach Kirsten Jones on the I Love to Watch You Play platform. We talked about ways parents can support their athletes through the pandemic and how school re-entry was impacting families' experiences with both school and sports. If you are raising an athlete, click on the picture to hear our discussion.
Emerging From the Pandemic With Acne, Facial Hair and Body Odor
I've spent a lot of time thinking, over the past year, about the pros and cons of going through puberty during a pandemic. Now that some kids are re-entering in-person school for the first time in 13 months, it's no surprise that they (or their peers) look a lot different since the last time they were on campus. The same supportive messages that have always helped are even more important today. Everyone goes through puberty differently and on their own time schedule. There is
The Unending Assaults on Girlhood
This is a worthwhile read from Sophie Gilbert on Lebos' book Girlhood (which I will be ordering asap). "There is, and always has been, a trap within the bafflingly short virgin-whore continuum: Girls are shamed into doing things they don’t want to do and then shamed for doing them." Gilbert also comments "In the absence of specific lessons that emphasize self-worth and autonomy, internalizing the things some boys say they’re entitled to becomes disturbingly easy."