Facebook: Enough Already!
I have now heard it said by a few different people: Facebook is over. The social networking tool that the world fell in love with has become so thoroughly embraced…
Social Networking
Texting, Sexting… What’s Next?
A mother with her three teenage daughters sat in my office the other day. Two of the girls were there for sick visits. The third sister was just along for…
The Anxiety of Facebook
Social media has changed the way people interact. We can now remain in constant contact with hundreds of so-called friends, even ones we rarely see in person. The impact of…
Guidelines for Managing Kids’ Screen Time
“I don’t know what to do about my kids’ use of screens.” The mother who was talking to me was clearly worried. When asked to be more specific, she replied,…
Anxiety, Worry, and Stress, Oh My: The Bugaboos of Modern Life
Anxiety, worry, and stress are all afflictions of life in the modern world. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 10 percent of the American population, or 24…
Parenting and Sports: Bleacher Buddies
I’m sitting on a bleacher again. I think I’ve clocked a million hours since my kids started participating in sports and things artistic. By now I’m a pro at it….
Self-Esteem and “Oops” Events
I had a hero when I was a young girl: Loretta Young. On her 1950s television series, she represented all that was stylish, glamorous, and graceful. Each week, when she…
Back to Match.com?
Currently, I am interested in two men. Neither is viable as my new boyfriend. Dating in my 30s is different than dating in my 20s. I am able to more…
Does Facebook Help Students Adapt to College?
Recent psychological research suggests that social networking can help university students feel supported in their first few weeks at school. Investigating the possibility, Dr. Chris Stiff from Keele University, UK,…
Feeling Loved: Finding Happiness in an Overstressed World
We have been writing about love for millennia. From the earliest surviving love poem dating from around 2030 BCE to the work of philosophers like Lao Tzu to the sonnets…
How Many Friends Do You Need?
Among the most poignant letters I receive as an advice columnist are those from lonely people. Here are some typical samples. The letters are real but I’ve changed names to…
Tips for Building Self-Esteem
In my work, I sometimes feel that there is an epidemic of low self-esteem. Even people who seem to be very sure of themselves will admit to having low self-esteem,…
Celebrating June: How to Enjoy Your Children’s End-of-Year Events
Only another parent will understand. Every year I have the same June fantasy: The whole town assembles at the local football stadium. The ancient public address system wheezes to life….
The Quality of Online Support Communities: People not Posts
The popularity of online communities has never been stronger, with the growth of new groups (such as YouTube) skyrocketing past those of old. But sometimes people and companies confuse what…
Match.com — Again
I gave in. I signed up for Match.com again. Awesome new men were not appearing in my life without any effort on my part, so I decided to try online…