In ancient Greece “drama” was the generic term for a performance. Drama could be a tragedy, or comedy, or even a burlesque, but it was always fictional.

Raising a teenager can feel like you’re in the middle of a real-life Grecian drama without a genre. One moment you’re pulling out your hair in frustration, and the next you are laughing at the ridiculousness of the Facebook “flame war” your daughter is currently battling.

And that’s just it– teenage drama can be tragic, it can be comedic, it can even be somewhat perverse. Drama follows teenage girls like they follow #justinbeiber on Twitter, and as a parent it’s important to realize what “genre of drama” your teen currently has before you react. In clichéd terms: Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Honestly, you might as well invest in some hair dye, or maybe a wine cellar, because your teenage son or daughter for at least 5 to 10 years of his or her life will give you nothing but gray hair and melodrama until they mature.

And that’s OK. Nay, it’s actually a healthy and biological part of growing up.

According to a recent NPR story titled “Experiencing Teen Drama Overload? Blame Biology,” at age 12 the prefrontal cortex “thinking” part of the brain begins to shift considerably. This shift wipes out integral neurons that humans need to rationalize. Ergo, the real answer to the ‘”what WERE you thinking?!” question’, really is “nothing.”

This is an important fact to understand as you are raising a teen. Whether your teenage boy seems to have completely erased the word “thank you” from his vocabulary or your once little angel is brought home by a cop after sneaking out at night, just blame it on that darn prefrontal cortex.

Especially common with teenage girls, it is rare for teens to think through their responses or actions to problems or in social situations. This can lead to impulsive decision-making or cruelty. And that’s why it’s important to know the “genre of their drama.”

Most of the time teen drama is nonsensical, yet harmless. Comedic even, if it’s a nice day. Learn to let the “this sucks” and “I’m bored” comments go when you’re on vacation, don’t stoop to their level and bicker every school morning, and try to let most teen drama in the household simply float away like Laguna Beach’s Kristin Cavallari.

Conversely, when teen drama is nearing the tragic, you will know it. Warning signs that your teen is experiencing extraordinary drama, stress or anxiety are changes in her diet or sleeping patterns. Primal instincts are key here, not mood swings, which are bound to be more common in your household than the word “please” for several years.

Also, watch out for bullying behavior from your male teen or what’s fancily termed “relational aggression,” a subtle form of (most commonly female) bullying. Relational aggression takes form in hurtful rumors, exclusion, ridicule at school or on Facebook, etc, and can put victims at risk of self-injury, drug and/or alcohol use, eating disorders and depression. Genre: tragedy.

To prevent it, have a “bullying” talk like you would a sex talk with your teen, be stern and unrelenting when you witness relational aggression, and be a model of kind behavior to others in front of your teens (but of course you already do that!).

Although teen drama isn’t as fictional as the Greek kind, it certainly is ancient. If you haven’t experienced it yet, you will. And once you do you will whine, whimper, and wail to everyone who will listen. And everyone will respond with the same mantra “it’s just their age.”

So we want to hear from our readers who are survivors of their kid’s teenage years. What advice do you have for parents with newly dramafied teens? Should you read parenting books all day or just buy out Costco’s supply of ibuprofen? Inquiring, and frazzled, moms want to know!

In return for posting your wisdom in the comment box below you will be entered into a contest to win an Artistic Sensations $50 gift card!

And hey, you even could use it on some teen bedding. Maybe that will encourage your teens to actually sleep at night instead of sneaking out the window?

Maybe.

Bedding, Parenting, teen bedding | No Comments »

Before: what you can do before you get the fabulous furniture

Before you buy upholstered furniture for your home, consider your lifestyle. It might not be a great idea to put upholstery in your kid’s bedroom because it can be more difficult to remove stains from upholstery, for instance. If you are thinking of buying an upholstered chair for the most popular room in the house, you may want to choose synthetic fibers over other fabrics to minimize wear-and-tear. And lastly, remember that upholstered furniture is sensitive to light, so you probably don’t want to put an upholstered piece in a window.

Side note: always check the tag on the upholstered furniture for cleaning instructions before buying— you may change your mind about the purchase after reading its tedious upkeep instructions.

During: what you can do today to keep your upholstered furniture fabulous

To keep your upholstered furniture looking fabulous you should clean it often. Optimally, upholstered furniture should be cleaned weekly. A quick and painless way to clean upholstery is to simply remove the cushions and vacuum the entire area before vacuuming the cushions themselves, top and bottom. A good vacuum brush is essential for upholstered couches. Another important, yet wince-free way to extend the life of your furniture is to flip and fluff the loose cushions regularly as this will evenly distribute use, and therefore minimize indentations and other unavoidable wear-and-tear.

For a more time consuming yet more thorough clean, you can try laundering the upholstered furniture. Again, check the tag first. This instructional manufacturer’s tag should tell you what type of products you can and cannot use on your furniture when cleaning day rolls around. This step is essential. In fact, some upholstered furniture can be ruined by all solvents, causing shrinking, staining, or other problems that may or may not start with an “s.”

So what happens if you can’t find instructions? Find the most elusive spot on the chair or couch (a place hidden by a cushion or other apparatus works) and dap a small bit of upholstery shampoo to “test” how your furniture will react. If nothing happens, it should be OK to clean your furniture with that shampoo. If the cushions on your furniture have removable covers, it is normally fine to machine wash. However, always wash on cold and hang dry. To minimize the damage when a spill occurs, you can also treat the furniture with fabric protector.

After: what you can do after you stain your fabulous furniture’s upholstery

Stains are an inevitable, yet exasperating, fact of life. Kind of like gnats. Or teenagers. But there are several ways to remove stains from upholstered furniture to keep it looking fabulous. If you see the stain occur, immediately blot the spill with a freshly washed, folded towel. Sometimes blotting the stain immediately will completely remove it. If not, spot clean the stain. Again, check the manufacturer’s tag before using a product on your upholstered furniture. If no instructions are given always go with a mild cleaner, and test it out first on a hidden spot on the cushion somewhere. After you’ve chosen a cleaner that won’t damage your goods, use a soft brush to work the product into the fibers in a slow, circular motion. Wait for the fabric to dry, then vacuum for a job well done.

For more helpful hints on cleaning upholstered furniture check out this article by Deborah McDougal. She suggests using everyday products to clean fabulous upholstery like baby wipes, Dryel dry cleaning cloths, Mr. Clean, Mean Green or white vinegar.

Furniture, Room Decor | No Comments »

I remember well the angsty days of teenage life.  Oh the insecurities and the fears and the tears that were shed over the everyday tragedies such as “I just have nothing to wear. Gah!” As if there wasn’t enough drama with raging hormones and the awkwardness of being trpped between childhood and adulthood, a dating relationship always seemed to throw one more wrench in my so called life as a teenager.

I remember a certain piece of advice I received as a young teen to tread carefully into the world of dating.  “Dating doesn’t need to be taken too seriously when you’re this young,” a mentor adviced.  “Have fun, but protect your heart.”  To which I scoffed, rolled my eyes and went on my merry way with the boy I just knew I was destined to be with for the rest of my life.

I wish I could remember his name…

Looking back on those years behind the veil of maturity and perspective, I see the point my mentor was driving home.  I find it alarming (and a tell tale sign that I am getting old) when I see teeny boppers like Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift sing about loving someone.  They wax poetic on topics that are so much more mature than they, or their audience, which is usually comprised of giggly tweens who have barely let go of their baby dolls, can possibly understand or handle.

Add to that shows like Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill and others like them that portray teenagers as mini-adults weaving in and out of complex relationships and situations with glamour and ease.  No wonder our teens are confused!

We all know that couple who has been together since high school, or even junior high.  Those stories are sweet and special…and rare.  So often, high school relationships are fleeting and  fraught with emotion.  But teenagers who don’t understand how much of life they still have ahead of them so often dive into an adult-like relationship only to have their hearts broken later. And sometimes, a broken heart, coupled with all the other angst that riddles a teenage life, can cause young adults to react in devastating and harmful ways.

So how can teenagers enjoy dating in a manner that is both fun and healthy?

First, teenagers need to be equipped with an awareness that life goes on after high school.  They need to be given the confidence to date in a casual manner and not give their entire heart away.  Girls especially need to quit envisioning themselves in white the moment they experience their first kiss with a new boyfriend.  In fact, and I may have some who disagree, I don’t think teenagers need to say “I love you,” to each other in a dating relationship.  Ever.  Perhaps they do feel a genuine love for each other, but there is plenty of time for that feeling to be cultivated and shared as maturity seeps in.

Why not teach teens to simply enjoy their high school years and maintain a little innocence?  Idealic?  Perhaps.  Possible?  I think so.  But the fact remains that teenagers are hormonal beings.  Many (not all) teenage girls are controlled by emotion and boys by physical urge.  It’s hard to combat that with practicality.  As parents, I think the best we can do is encourage our teens to have fun, not take life too seriously and maintain boundaries and perameters within the dating realm.  It’s also important to teach our children from a young age to be secure in who they are apart from others.  A relationship shouldn’t define two people, but rather two people should define the relationship.  Dating doesn’t have to be serious, it can be fun!

Outside of that, however, it seems that most teenagers today will simply have to learn the same way the rest of us did- through tears, heartache and growth.

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Parenting, life balance | No Comments »

After a long, hot, relaxing summer full of swimming pools and late-night snacks, kids aren’t always thrilled to trudge out of bed to start the new school year.

But there is something about a new back pack or case full of unused pencils that make the first weeks of classes that little bit easier. And just because it’s school time doesn’t mean the fun has to stop completely. School supplies that have a little flair can transform a mopey child with the school time blues into a motivated and bright-eyed little golden star.

Back packs- Even if the old back pack is as durable as the day it came off the assembly line, kids always want a new one every school year. This is probably because they will have to see their back pack every day and gosh darnnit, it’s time for a change! Also, for kids in uniform their back pack is one of the only ways to show their personality and style to the world. For kids and teens with a wild, yet trendy, side there is the Animal Print School Backpack or Kids Sling Bag with furry decal. For the earthy child there is the Eco Back Pack in the love, peace, and recycle varieties (made from recycled plastic water bottles and trimmed with naturally biodegradable canvas!). And for kids of any hobby or interest, there’s the good ole patterned Childs Backpack, with 50 fabric choices to choose from for boys and girls such as “jungle,” “fairies,” “soccer,” or “pirates.”

Carriers- Bags aren’t just for backs or books. A reusable lunch bag for instance can be a great, more environmentally friendly alternative to the sack lunch paper bag. These adorable Lunch Bags are recommended by the Center for Environmental Health as a good alternative to PVC-loaded vinyl lunch bags, neoprene protects, insulates and cushions without worry of lead or other bad-for-you chemicals. And they’re also just gosh darn cute and look like watermelons, apples, monkeys, cows or ladybugs. For a super trendy, yet furrier, animal lunch bag there are the Animal Print Lunch Bags in jaguar, lynx or zebra. Just as stylish is the Polka Dots Duffle Bag with interior nylon lining; it will set any girl apart from her less fashionable classmates in gym class.

Nap Mats and More- Bring your toddler the comfort of home with fun patterned nap mats. The Dinosaur Nap Mat will have your little one dreaming of archeological digs, and the Buckaroo Cowboy Nap Mat that extends into a Sleeping Bag is perfect for wranglin’ up a hyper preschooler for naptime. Because more functionality means more fun, the Dog Plush Pillow Purse is perfect for preschoolers to use as a bag for supplies, as well as a naptime sleeping accessory.

Going back to school can be a stressful time for kids, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do it in style. So relieve some of that September anxiety this year with new Artistic Sensations back to school supplies. Sometimes a new Buddy Computer Desk or Student Desk can provide the push your child needs to get their homework done every night, just like a shiny new gel pen just begs to be written with.

Wishing you lots of gold stars, an A plus in parenting, and a Happy School Year from Artistic Sensations.

Furniture, Room Decor, school supplies | No Comments »

As the summer sun begins to wane into cooler beginnings for a new school year, adults like to relax and watch the seasons change. Their teens, conversely, want to party it up before school starts.

It is both natural and healthy for teenage kids to want to socialize with their friends both inside the home and out. But it is your responsibility to maintain control over your teens partying and behavior, while still allowing them freedom to grow into mature adults.

Oftentimes parents unintentionally lead their teens in the wrong direction just because they approach parenting from an incorrect vantage point. Parents need to impose limits, rules and discipline on their teen circumstantially to avoid common mistakes.

Consider their age: Parents should certainly have different rules for their 14 year-old than their 17 year-old. The teenage years are extremely important to kids’ mental development. It is during the teenage years that children will become the most reckless and irresponsible of their lives as well as the most grown-up and mature. This is why their age is so important. If a 13 year-old asks to spend the night at a friend’s house, it is probably more innocent than if a 15 year-old does, because as teens age they become more rebellious, less afraid of punishment, more susceptible to peer pressure and more adventurous.

Be a Role Model: Amazingly, teenagers do look up to their parents, even if they’d rather die than admit it. Consider your behavior around your children. If you smoke, they are more likely to smoke. If you binge drink at family functions (or at all in front of your kids) they could mimic your behavior at parties. Try not to adopt the “do as I say, not as I do” mantra, but instead try for the “lead by example” parenting model.

Give a ‘get out of jail free’ card: At parties your teen will inevitably be put in some precarious and sometimes dangerous situations. Accepting this can be the most difficult part of parenting a teen. And knowing that you have to let go and give your teen the freedom to attend parties that could lead them into a hazardous situation can be downright frightening. Consider giving your teen a ‘get out of jail free’ card to ease some of that worry. Encourage your teen to call you at any time of the night from any location and in any situation if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Assure your teen that if they do so you will not yell, berate, or interrogate them. Instead, wait until the situation has calmed down in a day or so and then have a composed discussion with your teen about what happened. Sometimes the ‘get out of jail free’ card is all it takes to keep your teen from getting in a car with a drunk driver to get a ride home or staying the night at an unsafe location with dangerous or abusive people.

Punish (and reward) based on behavior: Parents of responsible teens should not only be grateful, they should also reward their teens for good behavior. A trustworthy teen who comes home five minutes past curfew from a party should not be punished or grounded. Similarly, if you cannot trust your teen, it doesn’t mean that their curfew should automatically be extended the day their birthday rolls around. Freedom is a privilege. Seriously consider your teen’s actions and reevaluate your rules periodically based on both bad and good behavior.

Accept it, your teens will want to party. The best thing for it is to keep an open mind and ear, pay attention to their needs and maturity levels and be happy that they are growing up healthily. And if you really want your kid to stay home more, try purchasing some of the teen décor items from Artistic Sensations—they’ll never want to leave their room!

Parenting, life balance | No Comments »