Parenting
52 Posts
Teen relationships may be short lived — whether it lasts a few days, weeks, or months — but it doesn’t mean that a breakup isn’t devastating for your child, especially if it’s their first breakup.
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Mindfulness meditation is the practice of intentionally noticing bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions in a non-judgmental way in order to promote relaxation and to increase self-awareness.
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In 2017, the controversial Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” created a social media firestorm with its depiction of a tragic teen suicide by 17-year-old Hannah and the aftermath at the girl’s high school. Many mental-health advocates decried the show’s portrayal of suicide as irresponsible if not downright dangerous. In the month after the show first aired, there was a 28.9% increase in teen deaths by suicide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
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When teens feel forced into going to therapy, their motivation to change is low, so engaging with your teenager before the appointment and involving them in the process is highly recommended.
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Following a mental health diagnosis for your child, you may feel concerned, uncertain, and even fearful. On one hand, you finally have some answers. On the other hand, it…
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When you look at the calendar and see the holidays quickly approaching, what’s your initial reaction? While we tend to think of the holidays as a season of peace and goodwill toward all, in reality, it’s often a very stressful time, especially for parents.
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Has your child been acting differently lately? Did they used to be organized, outgoing, and actively involved in class and social activities but have recently become withdrawn and disorganized? Have they even started sharing strange thoughts and ideas?
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. About 10% of children ages 4 to 17 suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to data collected from 2015 to 2016 by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Children diagnosed with ADHD often perform poorly in school as they struggle to control their hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. This significantly impacts their ability to learn effectively.
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The school year is coming to a close and your kids can’t wait for summer. They’re looking forward to staying up late, sleeping in, playing outside and going to the pool.…
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As a teacher and a parent of four children, one of whom has bipolar disorder, some days I find myself staring at my computer screen, my mind frozen. What was I doing?…
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Suicide is the second-leading cause of death between ages 10 and 34, according to the National Institute for Mental Health.
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As the parent of a child dealing with mental illness, you spend a lot of time and energy focusing on your child’s day-to-day well-being. Whether you are coordinating with…
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It’s your child’s bedtime and you’re dreading it. Instead of the calm process you wish it was, it’s filled with tears, pleading, and excuses after excuses. Peacefully…
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As we waited for an ambulance to take Eric, still raging, to the hospital, I sunk down to the curb, looking at my fingers, still sticky from pancake syrup. I will never forget what happened next.
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The end of the year is approaching, which means we are already halfway through the school year. Holiday parties, special religious celebrations and services, snow days,…
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In November 2010, I celebrated my first Thanksgiving as a full time single parent of a very special boy who had an un-diagnosed serious mental illness. Eric was barely…
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Let’s face it: Labels are useful. For consumers, labels can point us to a trusted brand, or give us important information about how to care for a new article of clothing,…
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Your child is no longer actively suicidal and has been discharged from their inpatient stay. There are several things you can do to help your child's recovery continue after the initial crisis has subsided.
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For many parents, the middle of August is the most wonderful time of the year. After hearing a thousand iterations of “I’m bored!” and waging a positional (often losing)…
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Turning 18 is a significant milestone for children and parents alike. It’s a rite of passage that children look forward to, as they think "Finally, I can make decisions on…
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My youngest daughter turns 13 in a few weeks. For the first summer in ten years of balancing work and motherhood, I don’t have to worry about the one expense that rivaled…
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I’m a recovering perfectionist. In my writing, I’m always looking for a better way to phrase things (I’ve revised this sentence four times). As a teacher, I’m always…
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Parents of kids with mental illnesses fight so many daily battles that trying to get a stubborn child to eat a healthy meal can seem like an impossible task. But healthy meals are worth the fight.
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Sometimes, getting a teenager to do something that’s good for them may seem next to impossible. However, teens need their parent's guidance and support to make mental health a priority.
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Spring Break is my family’s favorite time to travel. Because we live in chilly Idaho and our grandmas both live in sunny southern California, we usually schedule a trip…
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It’s a familiar scene. A mother attempts to comfort her young daughter as tears stream down the girl’s face. All of the daughter’s friends received a valentine from…
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I’ll never forget the day that my then four-year-old son Eric told me he just wanted to be a zero. “It hurts too much, Mom,” he said, referring to the anguish of sensory…
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The New Year is a time for taking stock of our lives. We celebrate the things that are going well, and we re-evaluate the things that could go better. Many of us write…
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The holiday season is one of the most wonderful times of the year…and for children with anxiety and their families, the most stressful. Amid the swirls of lights, color,…
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Since my children were young, we’ve practiced the same Thanksgiving tradition. During the first week of November, we sit down together and make our “Thankful Turkeys.” We…
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The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone, even more so after divorce or separation. Memories of the past can bring up difficult emotions for both parents and…
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Support comes in all shapes and sizes, and this advice applies to more than just sports. Your child needs your healthy support in every activity, from soccer to competitive rock, paper, scissors.
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Adolescence is hard – some might argue more so than adulthood – so if taking a mental health day benefits an adult, why wouldn’t it also benefit a child?
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A 2016 report by the Associated Press stated that 2.7 million grandparents are raising grandchildren, and about one-fifth of those have incomes that fall below the poverty…
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Between 30 and 50% of kids in the juvenile justice system experience mental illness. Family involvement is the single best asset these kids can have.
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Building resiliency in kids with mental health challenges is a year-round process, but the summer months can prove to be especially challenging.
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Whether through one-time projects like collecting canned goods for a local food bank or ongoing projects like monthly visits to a senior citizens center, there is a variety of opportunities for families to volunteer together.
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Going away to college – it’s a rite of passage for many and a time of huge personal growth and change. But for young adults dealing with mental health problems, it…
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Marriage isn’t easy even under the best of circumstances. A marriage enduring the stress of caring for an ill family member is perhaps one of life’s more difficult…
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Let’s talk about some ways to keep the summer fun and easy, while making sure your kids get what they need to stay healthy, busy and happy.
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Your heart hurts seeing your child struggling with their mental health. There are things you can do to help your kiddo - as well as yourself and your whole family!
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If you are parenting an adolescent or teenager, you’ve heard of the Netflix Original Series 13 Reasons Why.…
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Behavior problems are a signal that there is something else wrong in the child’s life. The behavior itself is rarely the actual problem but usually the product of something else.
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When your child needs physical care as well as mental, an emergency room is clearly the best option. However, mental health patients face two major hurdles when they use the ER for treatment during a crisis.
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By depriving children of opportunities to play on their own, away from direct adult supervision and control, we are depriving them of opportunities to learn how to take control of their own lives.
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Habits and life routines affect our mental health and well-being. So what can we do to create a better mental health our children?
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Scientists are realizing that many of the things we ought to do for our general physical health – like eating well, exercising and getting enough rest – have profound effects on our mental wellness, too.
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Our children can be especially sensitive to family interpersonal dynamics during the holiday season, so parents must be aware of how interactions and emotions can impact their kids.
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As parents, we know that our summers looked different from those of our children. Hustling our kids to different activities and camps isn’t allowing them to blossom in the ways we might hope.
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With three kids who suffer from mental illness, Trudy and her husband Toby are setting an amazing example of practical wisdom to help their children succeed and to instill strong values in them.
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Ben had been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and anxiety in high school. As it came time for him to leave for…
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The biggest reason many teens don’t talk to their parents about their suicidal thoughts is their perception that their parents would “freak out.” Would you?
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