Logan has said it very nicely! Setting boundaries and consistently following up are key. Kids act like they don't want boundaries but deep down they really do. It shows them that you care for them and love them enough to worry about them. A lot of times when my son breaks a rule and I feel sorry for him, I have to realize he will not learn if I back off. He needs to pay the consequences for his actions, Good or Bad! I try to reward his good behavior without going too overboard. And the one thing I've learned is if you say you are going to do it, DO IT!!!

At the beginning of every school year we sit down and discuss expectations and required behavior. Every year we give him a little more freedom and try to prepare him for how to handle things when we are not around. If he doesn't follow the rules that we establish together, then he has privledges taken away.

One last thought: Try and keep her busy in things that are wholesome. There is so much lurking out there and trying to hurt our kids. They need to know there is good too! I have my son enrolled in several Boy Scout and Christian camp activities over the summer. I want him to form friendships with the right crowd so I have to influence his desire to do that. He is involved in our church youth group and does many things with them. They even go on church retreats about ever two or three months for the weekend. I have his friends over to our house a lot so we can meet them and get to know them. We spring for pizza occassionally and always have snacks and drinks available. I think the kids like coming over to our house because we try to make them feel welcome. Then we have an opportunity to share with them also. One kid especially likes to come over since his parents are hardly ever home and he is left to his own devices quite a bit. I don't agree with that and have kind of secretly adopted him as my own.

You have a very loving heart and I'm sure your neice will love you and Mark for helping her out of this tough time in life. Give her responsibility for the dogs too! Develope a sense of responsibility towards animals and perhaps she will be a future Pet Talker or animal rescuer!

Best Wishes and keep us posted.