Recently I read a wise quote online, “Your child is not giving you a hard time, your child is having a hard time.” The slightest difference in wording reframes a child’s behavior and emotions completely. Often as parents, it is challenging to remember that more is going on with our children than meets the [...]
Cultivating Positive Relationships Oftentimes as parents, we accept the notion that siblings can not and will not get along, especially in the summer. While some sibling conflict is normal, there are also things parents can do to set a positive tone in the home. Consistent, intentional efforts to cultivate a positive relationship will help children [...]
Social Media, Internet and Youth: Tips for Parents As mental health professionals, we’ve come to view social media use as a modern developmental task in which all youth should become proficient. Most teens can be taught to use social media responsibly just like most learn to drive responsibly. As with driving, it takes education, supervised [...]
A Dreamstime.com Photo The Power of Words As parents, we sometimes forget how powerful our words to our children really can be. We often find ourselves in “expert” parent mode, and forget to really listen. Sometimes we use way too many words. Several years ago, while playing a dinner question [...]
It's the Holiday Season: So, Where’s The Magic? A dreamstime.com photo The holiday season can bring up many emotions. For parents, Christmas can also bring pressure from many different directions: family gatherings, finding the “right” gifts, and creating special memories and traditions that our children will cherish for years to come. So what [...]
Parenting "Troubled Children": Some "Unspeakable" Honesties ADHD, OCD, ODD, Sensory Issues, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorders…whatever diagnosis it’s called in your child’s case, all you really know is that it’s painful. Painful, upsetting, guilt-ridden, and exhausting. Even the simplest of routines become difficult with your child. The most menial tasks become unmanageable. [...]
