Issue Date: February 5, 2006
What to do when your teen says "I'm in love"
Adolescent romance may be a popular topic of love songs, but most researchers shy away from studying it. One reason may be that it often is too fleeting to examine in any great depth, theorize the editors of "The Development of Romantic Relationships in Adolescence" -- one of only a few current scientific books on the subject.
But Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and if researchers can't work with teens in love, how can parents?
For starters, ignore your instincts, says Ritch Savin-Williams, a Cornell University adolescent development expert and one of the book's contributors. If your teen is coping with a crush, don't call it "puppy love" or dismiss it as just one of many relationships to come. "Parents tend to view teen romance as practice for the real thing. But to your child, this is 'it,' " he says.
And when your lovesick teen comes to you, don't jump too quickly to give advice -- even if he asks for it. "It's more important to listen supportively and let your teen process what he's feeling," Savin-Williams says. Fathers may have an easier time doing this, he says, "because mothers tend to be the day-to-day advice-givers."
Go to top
New ways to save on taxes
Several important tax law changes from last year might affect the filing of your 2005 return.
Some highlights:
FOR EVERYONE. You may be eligible for the earned income credit, which increased in 2005, if you:
Have more than one qualifying child and earn less than $35,263 ($37,263 if married and filing jointly);
Have one qualifying child and earn less than $31,030 ($33,030 if married and filing jointly); or
Don't have a qualifying child and earn less than $11,750 ($13,750 if married and filing jointly).
If you take the standard deduction In most cases, base amounts are higher than in 2004. Singles and married taxpayers filing separately take $5,000; head of household, $7,300; married taxpayers filing jointly, $10,000. The exact amount depends on other factors, like whether you are 65 or older, or blind, or whether another taxpayer can claim you as an exemption.
If you itemize. Check out irs.gov for details on these tax breaks:
IRAs. The amount you and your spouse, if filing jointly, may deduct as an IRA contribution moves up to $4,000 ($4,500 if you're 50 or older), if you meet income requirements.
Business mileage. The rate increased from 40.5 cents earlier in 2005 to 48.5 cents per mile for all miles driven from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.
Hybrid car owners. You can claim the maximum amount allowed for a clean-fuel or electric vehicle.
Sharon Epperson is the personal finance correspondent for CNBC.
Go to top
Fight obesity: Play some games
"Children average four hours a day in front of the TV or computer, and lack of activity is integral to the childhood obesity epidemic," says Gary McCoy, chairman of the End Childhood Obesity Foundation. "Parental role modeling plays a huge role in determining kids' activity levels."
Get active with your kids, and make it fun even when it's cold outside:
Stomp and pop. Tie a balloon around one ankle with string; first one to stomp and pop his balloon wins.
Hide-and-seek. Hide a kitchen timer. Challenge your child to find it before the alarm goes off.
Freeze dance. Play music while kids dance. When the music stops, everyone freezes. The first person to move is out; last one "frozen" wins.
Obstacle course. Use furniture, jump-ropes and empty boxes to create an obstacle course. Whoever completes the course in the fastest time designs the next course.
Go to top
Last-minute cruises
How does a three-night Bahamas cruise for $279 per person sound? That's what Expedia recently asked for a Carnival cruise just three weeks before it set sail. Last-minute cruises, typically those that depart within 60 days, often are sold at steep discounts. That 60-day mark usually is the cutoff date for canceling an existing reservation. Only then can cruise lines see how many cabins remain. It's also when discounting begins, and those discounts can get bigger and continue until the week before sailing. But last minute means potluck in terms of cabin choice, and these cruises often are sold without airfare, which means you may have to scramble for a flight.
|
