“I’m bored.” A phrase that many parents hate to hear. It is often accompanied by whining and an expectation that the parent will come to the rescue and provide sufficient entertainment. Boredom is not a terrible state that we should prevent at all times. Boredom provides time for your child to learn to engage with […]
It feels like school just started! But the homework battles and mounds of papers on my kitchen counter tell me that school is fully underway, and we are already nearing the end of the first quarter. Whether the school year has been calm or hectic for you, it is about to kick into high gear […]
From preschool through high school, it’s easy to get sucked into the trap of stressing (and over-stressing) about if our kids will grow up to be successful. We want them to work their hardest, earn perfect grades, and study to get top scores. We want them to play on the right teams and to work […]
Have you ever noticed that parents don’t stand around and talk about how their child didn’t make the team, failed a test, or cried as they waited in line for a roller-coaster? Parents prefer to talk about achievement, growth, and well-being rather than the disappointments their children experience. It’s no surprise children and adolescents do […]
In the last newsletter, I wrote about framing your challenges in a way that orients you and/or your child towards success. Now that you’ve found your frame, you can practice zooming in and out on specific sections of the picture. Whether you’re the parent of a child with significant special needs or you’re the parent […]
Going to therapy for the first time can lead to a variety of feelings in parents and their child. Worried, mad, surprised, confused, hopeful, hopeless, relieved, and other emotions may be the reaction your child feels when they are told about meeting with a therapist. Many parents have asked me how to talk to their […]
When faced with challenges, no matter what those challenges are, I find that it helps to do two things. First, figure out how to frame your challenges in a way that orients you (or your child) towards acceptance, resilience, and solutions. Second, learn how to adjust your focus, deciding when to zoom in and recognizing […]
My family is experiencing significant changes this summer as we move from Chicago to Cleveland. As we walk through these changes as a family, our goal is to help our daughters transition as smoothly as possible. We know we cannot prevent sadness, disappointment, frustration, or confusion, but we can help them identify, accept, and express […]
Many parents put an extraordinary amount of resources into their child’s sports, including time, money, and emotional energy. Emotional energy? That doesn’t sound right, but I think for a lot of parents, it’s true. I encourage parents to ask themselves a few questions when they enroll their child in a sport and throughout their child’s […]
Electronics. I have a love-hate relationship with them. I love how easy they make everything, but hate how they seem to suck the brain right out of our kid’s head. The dazed, far-off stare of a child who has had too much screen time, followed by the anger and screams of that child when told […]