by Shannon Popkin | Sep 26, 2013 | Funny, Humility, seasons, Teens
I have absolutely no idea how my high school friends and I figured it out. Maybe we were driving along one day and it randomly happened. Or maybe we were trying out an urban legend. Whether it was on purpose or not, somehow we discovered that we could make the garage...
by Shannon Popkin | Aug 27, 2013 | Communication, Parenting, Teens
Recently, I was talking to one of my teens about an upcoming choice. I was laying out the consequences and helping her consider the cost of not doing what she should do.But she cut me off, and said, “Mom, STOP. You’re guilting me for something that...
by Shannon Popkin | Jul 8, 2013 | Anxiety, Beauty, Media, Parenting, Teens
Dear Seventeen-Year-Old Me, Right about now, you’re noticing that it only takes a few inches of skin to make you more noticeable—especially to boys. Whether you want to admit it or not, girls like that sense of power they get when boys glance at them. It’s...
by Shannon Popkin | Jun 25, 2013 | Anxiety, Beauty, Discipline, Food, Parenting, Teens, Wisdom
Dear Seventeen-Year-Old Me,Let’s talk about the mirror. Sometimes when you look in it, you’re disgusted. You think you’re fat or ugly or covered in pimples. You’ve already started to experiment with your eating habits and your hair and makeup. You spend hours in your...
by Shannon Popkin | Jun 17, 2013 | Kids' Perspective, Leadership, Parenting, Teens, Wisdom
Dear 17-year-old Me,Let’s talk about your Dad. If you listed out your relationships by order of priority, I’m confident your dad wouldn’t land in the place he deserves—which is somewhere at the top of the list. When you have a dad like yours—one who faithfully...
by Shannon Popkin | Jun 13, 2013 | Change, Communication, Faith, Food, Teens
Dear Seventeen-Year-Old Me,Let’s talk about boys. It’s going to be rough for a while. You’re going to crave the attention of boys, but mostly because you want to know that you’re OK. You want to know that you’re pretty enough, smart enough, and fun enough… And...