Band, sports, church, projects, essays, algebra, report cards, school dances, driving lessons, hormones and dating—who has time to think about college for their teens? Waiting until senior year of high school to get started with ACT’s, SAT’s, scholarships and college admission can cause your child to miss out on many available opportunities.

If your child actually listens to the school announcements and heeds the advice of school counselors, don’t plan on your teen relaying the information to you as a parent. Here are a few of the things you need to know.

Read more: http://acworth.patch.com/articles/parenting-column-prepare-your-teens-for-college-now

The gloomy days of January can be the most miserable and stressful of the year, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you follow this ten step guide to destressing your life, then the next few weeks just might become the most serene and fulfilling ones of the year.

These really are easy steps — like doing something pleasurable,  eating a piece of dark chocolate, and remembering one of your favorite moments — but are based on scientific studies.

Read more: http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/destress-your-life-in-10-easy-steps.html

For the single parent, dating can be a minefield. When do you introduce your kids to your new love interest? How should you do it? How should you talk to their kids about your boyfriend or girlfriend?

Michael Harris, a child psychologist at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, hears from lots of divorced parents in his practice who want advice on how to deal with dating when they’ve got kids.

Read more: http://blog.oregonlive.com/themombeat/2011/10/top_dating_tip_for_single_pare.html