Embarassing Dads are good for Teen Health

He may be Britain’s first ever individual diving world champion. But like teenagers the world over, Tom Daley is not immune from the curse of the embarrassing dad.

Fresh from victory, the 15-year-old schoolboy was ready for the post-competition press conference.

What he wasn’t expecting was a question from his clearly emotional father Robert. ‘I represent Tom Daley, I’m Tom’s Dad,’ he said as the cameras spun around. ‘Tom, can you give me a cuddle?

Are embarrassing Dads really that bad?

Here are my thought on the matter that were quoted in the Yorkshire Post.

“While Tom Daley may have been a tad embarrassed by his father’s outpouring of emotion, one thing is for sure, embarrassing dads are a good sign. An outpouring of emotion from a dad shows he is interested in his child, that he cares enough to embarrass himself and further more that the relationship between son and father is intact and special. An embarrassing dad is something to be celebrated because it shows a level of communication with a child that goes far beyond ‘how was your day?’” .

“Often in a family the emotional stuff is left to the mother, but a father that can show emotion and connect at a deeper level, and yes, be embarrassing at the same time, is a great role model for any teen. Particularly a world class diver who needs to keep his feet firmly on the ground.”

So what do you think are embarrassing dads a good thing and what did your dad do to embarrass you?

Sarah now an expert on Living with Kids

It is with great pleasure I can announce that I am now an expert on the Living with Kids website. So if you have a question for me head on over there and send me an e-mail.

And I am with great company

* The panel includes:
* Dr Clare Heggie
* Daniel Galvin Jnr
* Money saving expert Alison Hunt
* Safety expert Clare Clark
* Child psychologist Ann Herreboudt
* Celebrity fitness guru Nicki Waterman
* Teen Coach Sarah Newton
* Vet Alastair Greenway

So take a look and ask away

Wisdom from a young entrepreneur

Vanessa Van Patten gives advice

Here is an exert from a  recent blog post by one of mu favourite bloggers. I love the way she is so honest and open in all the she writes.

Thanks Vanessa for inspiring others.

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Generation Y – the giving generation

The giving youth

Think this generation is full of selfish layabouts? Think again….

Here are some astonishing figures from a recent report By HRH The Prince of Wales

• 45 percent of young people volunteer at least once a month and 80 percent donate money to charity each month.

• Young people who volunteer give on average 3.57 hours a month.This is the equivalent of £210 million a year at minimum wage

• They also donate approximately £110 million to charity each year.

• Almost 40 percent of the voluntary work carried out by young people takes place through churches or religious organisations and 10 percent of those who declared themselves non-religious still volunteer through a religious organisation.

Shocking isn’t it? It makes a change to hear some good news, even if it will not go mainstream!

Read Teens contribute £300 million a year to society

Young girls who self-harm

Why do young girls cut themselves?

I have to say that this was never really a subject I knew a lot about, (nor really wanted to). I guess it scared me a little. I have never really spent much time with teens that do it.

So when I got sent this novel it did peak my interest a little, although I am not a great reader of novels, I have to say.

However, I thought I had better do the right thing and read it.

I have to say that the story is gripping and, while I have not finished it yet,I really care about the fate of the main character, Willow. The sections where she self-harms are graphic, yet not shockingly so and you really get a sense of why young girls may do this.

It is very rare to read a novel and begin to understand a topic for which you previously knew nothing about, but this book does it and what is more, wraps it up in an incredible and very readable storyline.

If you work with youth, get this book. If you are a parent, get this book. If you have teenage girls, give them this book! It shines light on a topic that may otherwise be left in the dark.

Get Willow by Julia Hoban

Are you a Parent Leader?

How well are you leading your Child?

Parent as Leader. Parent Leadership. What does it really mean? Do you think that as a parent you are also a leader and if so, how do you go about that?

i have always found the words Parent and Parenting to be very emotive. For me, they bring up a feeling of exhaustion, frustration and a feeling of being stuck. I’m not sure if this is only me but I have never found these words at all inspiring. Let’s face it, bringing a child into the word and caring for them, ensuring that they grow up to be a fine young adult is so much more than about parenting. I remember saying to someone ages ago that I am not a parent; I am a relationship builder and that felt much more freeing for me. I then went on to replace this with the word Leader; I am a leader for my child. To me that feels more like a task to take, a result to achieve, an inspiring outcome to work towards.

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