If you are a parent, you know this story—you’ve seen it happen, or you’ve lived it yourself. You’re in the supermarket. A mom is pushing a shopping cart, accompanied by a young child. As she goes down the aisles, the child reaches out to the shelves and grabs anything he can get his hands on, […]
Can there be a more joyful event—or a more stressful one—than the birth of your first child? A brand-new parent, staring down at this tiny, vulnerable, squalling bundle, may be overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, incompetence, even terror! Where the heck is the owner’s manual?? I might break it!
How to help your child pick up the pace.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”? Well, for military families going through the holidays while a loved one is deployed overseas…not so much! I was in a military family dealing with this experience, and I have tremendous empathy for all of you parents whose spouses will be deployed during the holidays. I remember […]
A loud dog barks, and your three-year-old bursts into tears. Your four-year-old won’t go to sleep unless you sit bedside to scare away the monsters. A clap of thunder shakes the house, and suddenly your five-year-old is running into your bedroom and jumping under your covers. Fear is a basic emotion that every human being […]
Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Caregivers, In the aftermath of the recent hurricanes, floods, and other severe weather events, many families have been thrust into extraordinary circumstances that can be life-changing, with short and long-term effects on children’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Even children who live far from these weather events can experience anxiety based […]
Lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey Like everyone in this country, I have been riveted by the coverage of Hurricane Harvey: the absolutely horrific images of entire neighborhoods under water, people of all ages being rescued by boat, families crowded into shelters, the heroic efforts of first responders and volunteers to keep people safe, and all […]
Take your child’s emotional temperature Is there a child in this country who doesn’t have a host of extracurricular activities on his or her schedule? After-school programs, soccer practice, violin lessons, chess club, gymnastics, play rehearsals, or some combination thereof—our kids often have more complex itineraries than corporate CEOs! For many children, these activities are […]
Here are a few pointers to help you make the most of your parent-teacher conference.
Learning the important lessons of emotions and empathy