That November morning started like any other. I was making pancakes in the kitchen while my 7-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son set the table. Their older brother Eric, 13, soon joined us, prompted by the delicious smell of bacon wafting through the air. As I doled out pancakes, I noticed a stack of books on the counter.
Topics: Parenting Kids With Mental Illness, Getting Support, Getting Treatment, Children's Mental Health
Is your happy-go-lucky teen suddenly avoiding situations they once found enjoyable, such as hanging out with friends, going to movies, or joining in on family activities outside of the home? Have you noticed your teen getting agitated or upset while standing in the grocery store line, or missing more school days than usual even though they seem healthy overall?
It’s a new year, and that means it’s a perfect time to reflect on our habits and goals for ourselves and our family – especially around mental wellness for your family. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on how your family is doing in these five areas below. Take note of any areas where you would like to grow, and decide on some small steps your family could take to make those changes happen.
Topics: Military Families
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, and winter break are all here. While the holidays are meant to bring us joy, rest, and spiritual rejuvenation, all of these changes also can be disruptive or stressful for families with children. This may be especially true for families with children who have special needs due to a mental health diagnosis.
Topics: Parenting Kids With Mental Illness, Mental Health Wellness, School Issues, Children's Mental Health
The time leading up to your spouse returning from deployment is often a frenzy of varied emotions, tasks in preparation, and expectations for the time together to come. Whether your spouse has been deployed for four months or 12, to a combat zone or in support of a training mission, the transition back home is an adjustment worth considering. Here are some suggestions for how you can support your serving spouse through the re-deployment phase.
Topics: Military Families
As parents, your number one goal is to help your child live a happy and healthy life. You want to protect them from any kind of harm — and that includes harmful drug use. Unfortunately, today more than ever before, your child may be at risk for developing an opioid addiction.