Parenting is hard. Newborns do not come with an instructional manual. What works for one child doesn’t necessarily work for all children. What worked for your parents, doesn’t necessarily work for your children. Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with numerous families from various socioeconomic backgrounds and here are some of the common themes I’ve encountered that contribute to negative family dynamics:

• too much pressure from parents on themselves and children to ‘get it right’

Many of us equate a fresh start in the New Year with resolutions for dropping excess weight, exercising more, or eating cleaner.  These are all healthy goals to work toward, that support our physical well-being.   Many of us have also found it challenging to sustain resolutions like these over time.   

After the holidays, it is not uncommon to be concerned about cleaning up, getting back on track financially, and making a smooth transition to our daily routine – while also feeling pressure...

As we age, we become more aware of not only our increased needs but also those of our parents and aging adults around us. We hear about and often help navigate the doctor appointments, the increased healing time for sickness or an injury, and the decrease in self –sufficiency. Elder adults, whether our parents, or members of our community experience both physical and mental conditions that often require increased care and oversight. There is a need for involvement that often falls on the family and friends that have the time and means to help. One of the most effective means of care for the elderly in need is 24/7 support.

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Halloween can be a fun holiday for all ages to enjoy. There are the costumes, parties, decorations, and of course trick-or treating. Many people have fond memories of Halloween festivities, but not all may enjoy Halloween due to their past traumas. The blood, guts, gore, and even sexualized costumes of Halloween may bring up past memories that are uncomfortable to remember.  Some people can feel re-traumatized: feeling like they are reliving a past event. People may feel extremely anxious during Halloween festivities. They may not be able to differentiate the...

It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through summer and it’s time to think about another school year. 

For me, this will be a fun year as my husband and I will be parents of a school-age kid again!  Our youngest is 23, but we’re now new foster parents to a 10 year old. 

If you’re like us and need some tips to get back in the swing and start the school year off right, here are 101 back to school...

 I’ve noticed a theme in my conversations with fellow parents this time of year – child water safety.

Parents are often worried their child is not a proficient swimmer or as far along as their peers. Parents are primarily concerned about safety, but also about their child not being able to join in at pools, playing at the lake or at water theme parks. Many newer community pools have a “gradual entry” where the water level is low for young children to splash, get wet, but don’t have to “swim.” These are great spaces, but my friends have legitimate concerns their children have grown up splashing around in these types of pools and never had to learn to stay afloat...

Addiction...

It’s a word that we often hear in our society yet often avoid due to how uncomfortable it makes us feel. Addiction is a life long journey that impacts not only the addict, but those closest to the addict.  This article will focus on parenting when your partner or spouse is struggling with an addiction. This can be very confusing as there is often a conflict between wanting children to have a relationship with the addicted parent, but also wanting to protect the children. Parents in these situations often look for black and white answers yet the reality is that each situation is unique...

I’m a big fan of summer camp.  I grew up in a small town and didn’t have an opportunity to meet many people outside of my school and town.  Every summer, I headed to Craig County Virginia on the other side of the state to hike, meet other people, and totally disconnect from my little world.  I had the opportunity to dance to Stairway to Heaven with new friends, slide down ravines, dig in creeks for crawdads, and climb a mountain.  Those were the days before cell phones, tablets, TV binge watching, etc.  Even then, the experience being in the great outdoors was extra-special.

Today, summer camp gives kids an even...

Around the time your toddler begins talking and walking, you’ll want to introduce expectations of where, what, and how your toddler can interact not only with you but also with the rest of the world.  Welcome to the stage “terrible 2s!”

The “terrible 2s” can start as early as 12 to 14 months and last  up to age 4.  The themes generally fall into 3 categories;

1) Mastery -  “I...