Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Here’s one: Let your kids resolve their own issues when it comes to college. uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos share stories of parental interference at the highest level and admit they’re guilty (occasionally!) of overstepping. That’s why this discussion with Harlan Cohen, bestselling author of The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College, is a reminder of a parent’s real job: not helping your children, but teaching them to help themselves.

Are your kids “joiners?” How many activities do you allow? Is it possible to be too involved? uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos uncovered some hard truths in their conversation with Nicole Wise, author of The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap.

Warning: This episode is not safe for little ears. Do not play it in front of your kids. Have you faced the dilemma of lying about Santa? Is the Elf on a Shelf something you love…or dread? What about Mensch on a Bench? A recent Facebook thread made uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos wonder if perpetuating myths is helpful or harmful. They talked to Dr. John Duffy, clinical psychologist, certified life coach, author of The Available Parent and co-host of WGN Plus podcast Better, about maintaining a healthy balance in your child’s emotional bank account.

Do you remember the days when every season had a different sport? That’s not necessarily true anymore. The business of youth sports is forcing kids to specialize long before they’re ready. uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos talk to John O’Sullivan, author of Changing the Game: The Parent's Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids and Is It Wise to Specialize?: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Early Sports Specialization and its Effect Upon Your Child’s Athletic Performance, about physical literacy and why the best athletes are well rounded.

Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year. And during the holidays, when everyone is supposed to be happy and joyful, many suffer in silence. Meghan Kennedy, a psychologist with Edward-Elmhurst Health tells uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos it’s important to prioritize. Are holiday cards absolutely necessary? Do you need to “win” the white elephant? Maybe your time is better spent focusing on what’s really important.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of students going to college is up 28 percent since the year 2000. How does that affect the admissions process? Why are kids with straight As and perfect ACT scores being rejected? Kristen Senior, founder of The Brass Ring college consultants, gives uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos tips on choosing the right classes (AP? IB?), streamlining activities and finding a school that “fits” your kid.

If you have a child who’s struggling in school, you know the pain and frustration involved. How can parents be sure their kids are getting what they need in the classroom? Carol Dimas, director and owner of Educational Advocacy and Consulting, takes uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos through the process of creating an IEP or 504 plan and making sure teachers and administrators comply.

Do you remember learning about “the birds and the bees?” Was it a series of thoughtful conversations or a let’s-get-this-over-with monologue from Mom or Dad? Betty Barsley Marra, a health educator at Robert Crown Center, tells uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos sex education should start at birth and continue throughout childhood as parents look for “teachable moments.”

Have you gotten yourself mixed up in your kids’ friendships? Wondering how to navigate relationships with the parents in your kids’ circle? uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos talked to Joyce Marter with Urban Balance in Chicago about ways to disengage from social engineering, petty competition and overall mama drama.

You know the scene. Jimmy or Kimmy gets home from school, drags 15 pounds of books and worksheets out of an overburdened backpack and settles in for hours of pained concentration. Or maybe Jess and Tess have NO homework, and you wonder if they’re learning anything at all. How important is homework, and how much is appropriate? Homework research guru Professor Harris Cooper of Duke University tells uh-PARENT-ly cohosts Tracy Weiner and Anne Johnsos it depends on the age of the child.