The dreaded back to school season is back ... soon the kids will be heading off back to school, much to the disappointment of every dad's wallet. New uniform, stationary, books and sports equipment can be enough to put your bank account seriously in the red, especially if you have more than one child to buy for. So we've put together a few hints and tips on how to lower the costs (and the stresses) of buying back-to-school stuff for your kids.

1) Get Organised
If you find a good deal on some items, or come across them in a sale later on in the year then buy them in a bigger size for the start of next years term. In between the start of the new school term and Christmas there will be sales on uniform because retailers will be left with stock that they will want to get rid of before the Christmas rush.

2) Trade with Other Parents

If you were to catch your teen texting or typing the acronym "PBS" and you're desperately trying to work out in your head what PBS could possibly stand for ... don't worry, you are not alone. These days our children are more likely to use TXTing, tweets and short updates on Facebook than to make an actual phone call. Consequently short codes or Internet speech is used in everyday vernacular. So "PBS" stands for more than just "Public Broadcasting System" ... in this case it's most likely to mean "Parent Behind Shoulder".

It’s so easy to complain about our teens. I know I’m guilty of too often dishing out criticisms, admonishments, and lectures. I worry that my boys might be doing drugs, drinking, or some other peer-pressure stupidity. But, they also deserve my support when they do well and my understanding when they slip up.

My 16-year-old, Will, recently bounded into my office, eager to talk. Wisely, I pulled away from the hypnotic lure of my computer, and faced him squarely, ready for whatever followed.

One of the things we instil in our children, as a duty to society, is respect for their environment. The dropping of litter has come to symbolize the frontline between those who care and those who couldn’t care less. The other day I saw a man casually discard a cigarette box as he walked along a pavement. I was following behind and I found myself compelled to pick the box up and reproach him about littering the streets. So I said “Excuse me, I think this is yours,’ holding the box up for all to see.

Do you sometimes find yourself telling your kids off for stuff that you did when you were their age? I guess it's a common situation for many parents and it presents a real dilemma. How do you allow your kids to experience some of the things you got up to as a kid but prevent them from getting into real trouble or getting seriously hurt? Ultimately it comes down to knowing your kids really well and knowing when you can trust them and where to draw the line. Unfortunately kids don't seem to learn well from their' parents' mistakes and as parents we sometimes have to allow them to experience the consequences of their behaviour.

So for all of todays parents who were in their teens during the 80s ... here's a top 10 list of DVDs to watch to remind you of all the stuff you got up to!

1) Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Have you heard of mood charts? If you're a dad that loves his stats and analytical information this is for you (and if you're not that kind of that just try it out anyway). The basic idea of a mood chart is that all family members plot how they are feeling each day on a chart and join the dots (ideally in different colours). Over a month you can see how you've been doing as a family in terms of your emotional state. The chart can be a great conversation starter to ask the kids or your partner why they are feeling the way they do. All you really need is a big piece of paper and a dateline at the top of bottom (which you can easily make by writing all the dates and days of the week for a given period on the chart).

Our eldest son has reached the age where he is curious about how babies are created. Enter the perennial problem; how to explain sex to a child. I chose the straightforward approach, reasoning that if I explained sex in a matter-of-fact way then he would quickly grow bored and move on to another topic of discussion. It went something like this: “Well, it’s just like the animals you see mating on nature programs. The male puts some sperm inside the female to fertilize her egg and that makes a seed which grows into a baby. How was school today? Which classes do you like the best? What would you like for supper?” He replied with a question I wasn’t expecting: “How come you still do it when you don’t want any more babies?”

If your child is looking to get a part-time job in the near future, why not give her a mock job interview? Have her enter your office and sit down. First, note if she is dressed appropriately. Second, ask for her resume. Then ask her questions like following:

• Why are you looking for a job?
• What can you do for our company?
• Why should I hire you?
• What is your biggest strength? Biggest weakness?

Also, be sure to tell your child not to ask about compensation until the end of the interview. A little preparation will go a long way in helping your kids land a job.

10 Ways to Teach Your Children a Great Work Ethic

We all want our children to learn the value of hard work, responsibility, faithfulness, and the joy of a job well done. But sometimes the distance between where they are now and the goal we have in mind seems awfully long.

There’s nothing new dealing with teens that think they know it all, but recently I’ve found that my 13-year-old is making me crazy with his attitude. I’ve got another teen at home - his 16-year-old brother, so I do have some experience living with a teen, but it doesn’t get any easier!

David and I occasionally go on short ski trips together, without his step-mom or older brother, and that is when David’s attitude tends to fully blossom. This “attitude” manifests itself in his regularly contradicting everything I say, questioning why he has to do something I ask him to do, and generally being constantly contrary.

Here's a nice little kitchen project with a mexican flavour. A great dish to cook with your kids and they'll marvel at how easy it is to bake your own tortilla chips. A great recipe for throwing a fiesta or adding some variety to your diet.

What You Need:

* 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cooked and shredded – roasted chicken makes for really flavorful soup
* 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
* 1 yellow onion, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon chili powder
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 bay leaf
* 1/2 large jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped - Be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling chili peppers and avoid contact with the eyes.
* 10 cups organic chicken stock
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1 can of black beans or other favorite beans, rinsed and drained
* 1 cup cooked corn or hominy