Every April, National Infertility Awareness Week (April 21-27) serves as a reminder of the struggles faced by those who are dealing with infertility. During this time, we are each encouraged to come together to raise awareness, offer support, and advocate for better resources and understanding surrounding infertility and its impact…
Kids depend on their parents in many senses, but especially emotionally. However, sometimes parents can seek a level of emotional support from their child that should be pursued and fulfilled in an adult relationship. This dynamic is called “emotional incest,” with the child taking on an inappropriate level of emotional…
Physical touch, whether it’s a hug, a kiss, or even just holding hands, can feel great from those we love. However, it’s also possible to receive too much and become overwhelmed by touch. Many people, especially mothers, can start to feel “touched out” when their sense of physical touch is…
When we discuss bullying, our focus is often on protecting our children from becoming victims. However, it’s equally important to address the possibility that our own child might be the one engaging in bullying behavior. As responsible parents, it’s our duty to recognize and rectify such behavior. This article provides…
When it comes to being a parent, many may feel the expectation to be bullet-proof, tireless, and a fearless leader of their household. But the reality is that parents are human—and will struggle like anyone else. And if pushed beyond their limits, parental burnout can occur. Parental burnout is a…
As much as we might try, no family is without its share of problems. But for teens who are particularly vulnerable to mistreatment as minors, or who may feel resentful and rebellious as they form their own identities in adolescence, it’s normal to wonder, “Do my parents hate me?” The…
Growing up, my brother and I were both very active (and yes, our parents were very busy). I played soccer, basketball, and tennis, and even danced for a while. Meanwhile, my brother also played soccer, basketball, and tennis, as well as baseball and track. Needless to say, we were practicing,…
Every year there seems to be a new parenting style trending in popular culture: helicopter parenting, tiger parenting, lighthouse parenting. People write about free-range parenting, gentle parenting, and slow parenting as if children are food items that need to be carefully cultivated through a certain recipe. Child psychologists and mommy/daddy…
It’s easy to want your children to thrive; it’s harder to know exactly how to help them achieve their full potential. Parents, grandparents, and other caregivers aren’t always given the resources to identify and find treatment for mental health issues in kids. The Covid-19 pandemic shone a much-needed spotlight on…
About one in six kids in the United States struggle with a treatable mental health disorder, and only half of them get the professional help they need. As a parent or caregiver, you provide consistent support for your child. You help teach them how to navigate life’s challenges. An important…
Childhood, if nothing else, is a memorable period of our lives. Hopefully, we can recall blissful memories: of holidays, old friends, family vacations, and time spent simply running around, doing all the things kids do. But not every childhood experience is so positive—some of us have adverse childhood experiences. In…
You may wonder why handwriting still matters in an era when we’re all typing on smartphones and computer keyboards. Americans aren’t especially known for their great penmanship. In fact, in 1955 the Saturday Evening Post called the US a “nation of scrawlers.” But we do still write: at school, on…
