Do you ever watch the news and think, “what the bleep is wrong with people?” It’s scary out there. As I am typing this, the local news stations are airing live coverage on the law enforcement officers who were shot serving a warrant. How do you raise happy and optimistic children in a world full of violence, graphic images and unacceptable behavior?

• Internationally acclaimed clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Wendy Mogel has a few ideas on the subject. Mogel is stopping in St. Louis to offer parents advice on raising confident, resilient children through a faith-based perspective and psychological research. And let’s face it — if you have a teen on the verge of adulthood, you need all the help you can get. That’s why she wrote her new book on raising teens, The Blessing of a B Minus. From summer jobs to household chores, Mogel highlights everyday ways for parents to instill confidence and responsibility in their young adults. You’ll walk away knowing how to cope with rudeness and frustration, when to step in and when to step back, ways to avoid over-indulgence and other timely topics. After the talk, Dr. Mogel will be signing copies of The Blessing of a B Minus. You are welcome to bring your own book or purchase one at the seminar.

Raising Self-Reliant, Optimistic Children in Today’s World: An Evening with Dr. Wendy Mogel is taking place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 28 at the Staenberg Family Complex gymnasium at the J location in Creve Coeur. Tickets are $10 for individuals and $15 per couple. Order yours online at www.brownpapertickets.com, by calling the J ticket office at (314) 442-3191 or in person at the J locations in Creve Coeur and Chesterfield.

• The men in your house won’t want to miss a special program hosted by the St. John’s Mercy Department of Fertility Care Services, Boys Into Men. This program focuses on modesty, values and respect as boys enter puberty. A panel of fathers, teens and a physician will help get the ball rolling on open communication between fathers and sons by answering questions on sexuality and providing age-appropriate information on the reproductive system.

Boys Into Men is taking place from 2 to 5 p.m. at vonGontard Conference Center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center on Sunday, March 27. The  $37 fee per family includes a light meal. This program is designed for 11 and 12-year old boys and their fathers. To register or for more information, please visit St. John’s Mercy Medical Center’s website or call (314) 991-0327. Reservations are required at least ten days prior to the program, so sign up today.

• Watch out boys because girls want to have fun, too. And the Passport to Power Mother/Daughter Event is a great place to find some. Designed for 5-to-14 year old girls and their mothers, this fun afternoon includes lunch, guest speakers, photos, nutritional counseling, hairstyling, exercise and skin care tips, massages and makeovers. New to the event this year is a full-day program specifically designed for 10-to-12 year old preteens and their mothers.

The day begins with an inspiring talk on how to discover and claim your dreams. Next, mothers and daughters will break off to their own sessions. Girls will explore what it takes to be a good friend and choose companions who share their values. They will be challenged to think about their motions and behavior in new ways. Meanwhile, Moms will learn different ways to teach their girls how to love themselves and treasure the traits that make them unique. The morning wraps up with an InterPlay designed to unlock the wisdom of your body through movement, stories, silence, son, ease and amusement.

The 2^nd Annual Passport to Power is taking place on Sunday, April 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Chesterfield. The Afternoon Mother/Daughter Event is $65 per mother/daughter couple. Additional adults are $40 per person and additional daughters are $25 per person. The Full Day Mother/Daughter Event is $90 per couple, $55 for additional adults and $35 for additional daughters. For more information or to register, please visit Girls in the Know website or give them a call at (314) 473-5685.

By Andrea Wilson, Events Blogger for SmartParenting