I recently had a conversation with a mother who was worried that her son was experiencing “BIG EMOTIONS”. Her worry was that these “Big Emotions” or reactions might not be appropriate to the actual circumstance. This made me think about this perception we have about EMOTIONS in general. Are they too much at times? Is the concern that having BIG EMOTIONS is a “bad thing” and something that is ...
What I Learned from Watching the show “Queer Eye”
If you’re not familiar with this “FEEL GOOD" show, I’d advise you to start getting acquainted. This show is the perfect antidote for the “winter doldrums” and can provide a really energizing departure from the stressors of living within this global pandemic. The Fab Five experts (as they're aptly named) offer to help people grow into better, healthier and more capable human beings - a personal ...
What is a Growth Mindset?
Each January rolls around and with it comes excitement & anticipation for the year ahead. We often make RESOLUTIONS about things we want to change, so we task ourselves with new goals and challenges. These resolutions require us to make BEHAVIOR CHANGES. Psychologists would say the best way to make behavior changes is by changing your SELF STORY. Everyone has stories about themselves ...
Say What You Want to Say
I recently read a quote from the British graffiti artist Banksy that says... “A lot of mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves”. It made me wonder what is this fine line between guiding our children in their younger years, but still allowing them to blossom into who they are and what they’re meant to be? As a parent, this is a balancing act. How much ...
They Long to be Close to You
A study at Harvard University shows that a loving parental relation is the strongest predictor of a child’s future success. I recently reread the parenting book, “The Power of Showing Up” by Daniel Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson. They suggest that having positive connections with our kids are key factors in raising happy, fulfilled & successful kids. The authors state that “It’s ...
How do we model resilience?
School is back in person and most kids & families have settled back into their old routines. Covid is here for at least the foreseeable future & what will matter most is how we learn to live with and adapt to adversity. These are tests of our resilience. Never has resilience been more necessary than in this last year and a half of our lives. Resilience has become the buzzword of late. ...
It’s Back to School Time!
September always symbolizes “Back to School. . There’s great anticipation and excitement about the new school year...New teachers, a new crew of kids in the class, new class schedules & whether your kids admit it or not, they’re mostly excited about getting back to “learning." Perhaps, not the homework, tests and studying that go with it! But, for parents “back to school” symbolizes your ...
It’s time to recharge before the school year begins!
Happy August! It’s a great time to relax & recharge before the demands of fall. Take time for yourself this month and do things you really enjoy. I grew up in the suburbs of New York when childhood was more free & parents didn’t micromanage our whereabouts. I remember my parents saying, “Go outside, ride your bicycle, read a book”. I would meet up with my friends in the neighborhood and ...
Letting Go & Holding on. How do we Strike a Balance?
Recently, I had the privilege of conducting a workshop with a group of moms whose children just graduated from elementary school. All the moms who attended were talking about this beautiful day and how they were overcome with emotion and pride. There were celebrations with family, graduation parties with friends, lawn signs and balloons. Graduations are so monumental for parents. Parents are ...
Finding Balance for Kids this Summer
This month we celebrate dads. Father's Day is a celebration of fathers, honoring fatherhood, paternal bonds and the role fathers play in society. Dad’s often get relegated to 2nd tier status compared to mothers, so why not honor all of our dads and father figures on this day. Help your children celebrate their fathers through homemade cards, helping out with household chores for the day, or doing ...
