Kimberly Witt

Your Teen Magazine • 2nd May 2023

The Very Best Lessons I Learned From My Mom

One of my fondest memories of my mom from my teenage years is the night we fought a badger. My dad was out of town, so my mom and I were managing life on the farm with the help of our outdoor farm dog, Bob. Bob, like his namesake, was a barker, and this time his barking alerted us to a problem — he had an unknown animal cornered under our front window.

Your Teen Magazine • 20th April 2023

No Graduation Party? No Problem! One Mom Has Ideas for Alternative Celebrations

When I graduated from high school many years ago, I celebrated in fashion. We scrubbed the house from top to bottom, making certain every nook and cranny was presentable for the public. High school teachers, aunts and uncles, and friends from near and far came to eat cake, cold cuts, and Aunt Sally’s homemade mints. They signed my guest book, talked to me about my flimsy future plans, and oohed and ahhed over my displays of awards and photos.

Your Teen Magazine • 9th March 2023

Parenting Tips: 5 Simple Ways You Can Find Happiness

One of my favorite podcasts, “The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos,” is devoted to helping us all learn how to be happier by using research-based strategies. Santos, a psychology professor at Yale, also offers free classes through Coursera on “The Science of Well-Being,” including one geared specifically for teens.

Your Teen Magazine • 29th November 2022

Your Kid Hit Double Digits? Let’s Celebrate with Gifts for Mom and Dad!

If you were lucky, your friends and family celebrated you and your new child at a baby shower. Armed with a plethora of multi-sized diapers, adorable onesies, and well-intentioned advice, you started your family life with stocked cabinets and closets. Maybe you had to suffer through some annoying shower games, but ultimately, that shower prepared you for the months to come. And then, years later, the teen years hit.

Your Teen Magazine • 14th October 2022

Do Your Teens Say No to Family Fun? Try a Pumpkin Head Halloween Photo Shoot!

Your kids have their Halloween costumes. You’ve hung Halloween decorations outside. You’re watching scary movies together as a family. Maybe you’ve even staged family Halloween photos or a pumpkin photoshoot here and there. But now, if you really want to create some unique Halloween memories with your teen, get your family ready for a pumpkin head photo shoot.

Your Teen Magazine • 20th September 2022

How One Mom Found Parenting Inspiration from the TV Show Bob's Burgers

On the air since 2011, the animated TV sitcom Bob’s Burgers has been serving laughs and compassion along with their “punny” burgers for 13 seasons and one full-length movie. (Seriously, as a word nerd, I would watch the show for the puns alone!) After a long day of work and parenting teens, this show is one of my favorite ways to unwind before heading to bed.

Your Teen Magazine • 26th August 2022

How An Anxious Mom Stopped Her Constant Worrying About Her Teens—Your Teen Mag

Last week my more introverted, internal-processing teen was quieter than usual for a few days. I tried to encourage him to open up, but I didn’t get far. A list of possible problems ran through my head. We have a pretty big trip coming up. Maybe he’s stressed about that. And when we come back, school will be starting. He’s been trying to decide between college-credit and AP classes. Maybe that’s weighing on him. Or maybe there’s an issue with a romantic interest.

Your Teen Magazine • 9th August 2022

5 Important Life Skills to Teach Your Teen on School Vacation

My whole family enjoys the leisurely pace of vacations and days off from school. During my years as a high school English teacher, I took advantage of the long stretch of summer vacation to grab some extra sleep. I read books for hours in the backyard and caught up on daytime TV. My teens love trading their harried school schedules filled with basketball practice, late-night homework, and other extracurriculars for some downtime and to work part-time jobs.

Your Teen Magazine • 5th August 2022

Teens and Sex: How The Talk Has Changed for the Better Over the Years

I grew up in the conservative Christian purity culture of the 1990s in a small Midwestern town. My parents modeled a healthy marriage with strong communication, regular date nights, and long-term commitment, even through challenging times. Our conversations centered on boundaries and expectations. We didn’t talk much about feelings or relationships. And we never talked about sex.

Your Teen Magazine • 26th July 2022

My Teenage Summers? Filled with Fun, Sun, and Risky Behavior

I’m a sucker for nostalgia. Many of my most magical teenage memories—real or imagined—happened in the summer. When my sons are grown, I want them to remember magical teenage summers, too. I see the stretch of summer days ahead of us and envision them enjoying days at the beach with friends and random road trips where laughter and loud music spill out their car windows, which are open wide.

Your Teen Magazine • 13th June 2022

Road Trip! 9 Great Podcasts for Teens and Families

It’s summer road trip time. What does that mean? Time for some Forced Family Fun! If your teenagers are usually in the backseat with their noses buried in their phones, maybe you can grab their attention with some teen-friendly podcasts. Here are some suggestions that might be worth a listen. **Some of these podcasts contain language you might not love to hear from your teens. If language is a concern, check for those warnings in the online podcast descriptions and listen to “beeped” versions w

Your Teen Magazine • 25th May 2022

How to Get Ready For Your First Job: Tips From People Who Know—Your Teen Mag

When I was in high school and living in small-town Iowa, the job prospects for 16-year-olds were limited. I opted for babysitting while some of my friends worked for local farmers or became certified nursing aides so they could work at the local nursing home. Now that my family lives in an urban environment, my sons have an overwhelming number of job prospects, and navigating them can be tricky.

Your Teen Magazine • 27th April 2022

Widening My Lens for Mother’s Day—Your Teen Mag

When I was a child, Mother’s Day meant Mom wore a corsage to church, and later we gathered for a special lunch with both of my grandmas and great-aunts who lived in our same small town. Around our oak farm table, we’d share a meal with constant conversation followed by plenty of dessert and coffee. These women taught me to bake and crochet, wiped my tears, and listened knowingly to my complaints about boys. Whether it was a safe place to land at the end of a school day with the promise of my favorite sugar cookies or a warm cup of tea at the kitchen table, the women in our family made sure I knew I was loved, and I was lucky to have them around me.

Your Teen Magazine • 21st April 2022

I Want My Teens To Be Kind With Intention, Not for Attention

When I was little, a teacher gave me cookies, and that simple act of kindness turned my day around. I first learned about kindness by seeing it in action while I was in elementary school. The experience taught me that sometimes the biggest acts of kindness are stuffed into the tiniest of packages, made even better when that tiny package is stuffed with cream filling.

Your Teen Magazine • 4th April 2022

Prom Stories: The Power of Nostalgia

Dressed in a sea of pink taffeta, softly lit by the dimmed overhead lights of our high school gym, I swayed to the beat of a popular ballad with my date’s strong hands expertly placed upon my slender hips. From the cloud of hairspray on my French twist updo to his soft lips on mine as we said goodbye, I remember my prom night as perfect, start to finish.

Your Teen Magazine • 28th March 2022

Silly April Holidays To Celebrate With Your Teens

April is a month of many significant religious holidays. It’s also time for some purely fun, unique and quirky secular holidays. Here are some things to celebrate in April with your teens.

Your Teen Magazine • 21st March 2022

Mom Advice: Helpful Ways to Talk With Teens About the News

After news broke of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, my 17-year-old son texted our family chat with a three-word question: World War 3? My husband and I quickly responded with texted reassurances, and we’ve had several follow-up conversations with both of our sons. Because of smartphones and social media, our teens often know breaking news before we do, which led me to wonder how my wise mom friends were handling these tough conversations with their teens.

Your Teen Magazine • 15th March 2022

6 Sitcoms Your Teen Will Watch with You

While our family media consumption also includes movies and dramatic TV shows, the fraught early days of COVID necessitated comedy, inspiring us to watch our way through several classic sitcoms. Now, thankfully, life feels a bit more normal. Still, on nights when we’re all home together, we watch an episode of mindless TV for belly laughs and harmless escapism.

Your Teen Magazine • 7th March 2022

Five Animated Films Your Teens Might Enjoy—Your Teen Mag

My husband and I were fans of animated movies long before we were parents. He still laughs until he cries during the final fight scene of Kung Fu Panda. I know every word to every song from every Disney movie of the late 80s and early 90s. Lucky for us, our teenage sons still get excited for family movie night—and while we’ve added more superhero blockbusters and irreverent comedies to the queue, my husband and I are glad to say some recent animated movies have become big hits within our family.

Your Teen Magazine • 9th February 2022

When I Need to Take My Own Advice—Your Teen Mag

Like most parents, I have a treasure trove of favorite sayings. My sons have heard them so many times they can now recite them as readily as they sing their favorite rap lyrics. These adages fit every needed occasion, and I know they’ve made an impact because my sons often parrot these truths back to me. That’s a good thing, because clearly I’m still a work in progress.