Will We Ever Return to Normal?
I feel like I have asked myself the question, “will we ever get back to normal?” several times a day over the last few weeks, as I’m sure many others have. And the answer that I keep telling myself is, “I’m not sure I want to.” Katie Greenleaf, LPCC recently shared a quote by Dave […]
Stuck at Home: Ways to Move Forward in Uncertain Times
It’s a difficult time to have goals. Coming out of the turn of the year, you may have been immersed in your efforts to be more organized, working to finally get out of debt, or maybe you resolved to finally work on that body-builder physique. Seemingly overnight, you were forced to shift your focus from […]
One Goal at a Time
This last month many of us were unexpectedly thrown into a new endeavor – teaching our children at home. This sudden added role is further complicated by several other factors, including our own work expectations, meeting the learning needs for multiple children, and managing stress levels in this chaotic time. If you have a child […]
Surviving and Skill Building
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been forced to take on new and different roles, to change our routines, and to adjust to restrictions that limit our usual activities. Although these changes can be stressful, they also provide opportunities to learn and practice many valuable skills including flexibility, communication, and problem solving. On […]
Helping Grieve the Lost Events of Spring 2020
Graduations, proms, musicals, concerts, senior recitals, birthday parties… the list goes on. There has already been a long list of postponed or cancelled events, and it will likely grow longer. There are even things that might seem minor, but have still been suddenly changed without the chance for proper closure. My daughter is grieving that […]
Why Is My Anxious Kid So Angry?
It’s easy to recognize that a child hiding behind a parent’s leg, trying to disappear from a friendly stranger’s questions, may be feeling shy and a little anxious at that moment. It’s also pretty widely acknowledged that certain scenarios like public speaking, starting a new school, or going away to camp may create a bit […]
Common Sense, But Not Common Practice: Managing Your Anxiety
As a working mom of two toddlers and currently expecting baby #3, life is crazy. Parenting doesn’t come with a manual and like popcorn, things are constantly popping up in our daily lives. Many of the parents that come into my office share feelings and themes related to feeling overwhelmed, overscheduled, lonely, and disconnected. They […]
Responding to Parent Social Media Concerns
I have recently been asked about the following article from Medium.com by multiple parents: “I’m a 37-Year-Old Mom & I Spent Seven Days Online as an 11-Year-Old Girl. Here’s What I Learned.” Parents have asked about my opinion of child social media use in light of this article, and generally how concerned they should be. […]
From Pacifier to Pacifying: Are We Silencing Our Children?
Over the last 3 months at home with a newborn little boy, I have become quite familiar with the use of a pacifier. After just a few short days home from the hospital, I remember holding my little boy as I was trying to get him to stop crying. I quickly reached for the pacifier […]
Changing Unhelpful Thoughts into Helpful Thoughts
In fits of frustration, an intense and upset child might exclaim, “I hate my life! I’m so stupid!” These kids sometimes hit themselves, destroy their work, and seem out of control. It can be really hard to listen to your child say terribly mean things to himself. It can be scary to think your child […]