Remember how in the ‘80s, we played records backward so we could “hear the voice of the devil”? Remember that shrieky cacophony? That’s the sound in my head when people say that to prevent school shootings, we need to arm teachers. They’ve got it in reverse. Adding more threat of violence to the dynamic in today’s schools is like adding Crisco to a grease fire.…

Algebra = not fun. Nipping out to McDonald’s = fun. AP history = so not fun. Hiding in the woods with friends during third block = extra fun. Chemistry = torture. Sleeping through the snooze button in a soft, warm bed = absolute bliss. Your average high schooler might use these equations to explain why they ditch class. Don’t believe them. I…

When I read headlines about celebrities who have died by suicide, my first emotion isn’t sadness. It’s recognition — a gut-level click of understanding. My first thought? “I get it, friend.”   Is it not kosher to say that in public? Good. All the more reason to tell the truth. Given the rising suicide rates, it’s more important than ever before to spark an honest dialogue…

If you have a teen — or, lucky you, many teens — in your life, it might feel like you live on different planets. Truly connecting with the teen(s) in your life may sound like an impossible miracle on par with winning the lottery or curing your own cancer by drinking green juice. But I’m not talking about a magic imaginary cure-all here. In fact,…