Experiencing miscarriage can be a traumatic and stressful experience. Preparing for a child then suddenly grieving his/her loss can seem insurmountable. Some will choose pregnancy again right away, and some will want to wait. Regardless of timing, getting pregnant again can lead to a number of emotions and concerns. Physically For many women, they are more fertile right … [Read more...] about Pregnancy After Miscarriage
Challenging Conversations
How to Talk to Kids about Drugs and Alcohol
It can be awkward to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol. You don’t want to mess up their innocence. You might be afraid that if they know about these things, they’ll be more likely to try them. The opposite is actually true—children who are informed are less likely to experiment with and less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. It is one of those difficult but necessary … [Read more...] about How to Talk to Kids about Drugs and Alcohol
Getting Help with Substance Abuse: Drugs and Alcohol
Many people experience depression, anxiety, emotional and/or physical pain and a host of other mental health struggles. Coping with these is not easy, and without a support system, many can turn to substance use to manage the pain. Use can lead to abuse, a condition that without treatment, can put lives at stake. So how do you know when to get help? According … [Read more...] about Getting Help with Substance Abuse: Drugs and Alcohol
6 Tips for Setting Boundaries During the Holidays
Your mental health is important, regardless of the time of year. An important part of self-care is knowing your limits and staying within them. It’s okay to say “no,” if someone asks too much from you even when Santa’s on his way. Care for yourself and others by respecting boundaries this holiday season. Boundaries are there to help relationships grow and keep everyone … [Read more...] about 6 Tips for Setting Boundaries During the Holidays
7 Tips on How to Talk to Your Child About Scary News
You can’t watch the news without hearing about scary news. If we can’t get away from the news, neither can our kids. It can be worrisome to talk to your kids about things like this when you are anxious yourself and don’t have all the answers. Here is the best advice we could find from the CDC and experts: Take care of yourself. Do what you need to do to be calm for your … [Read more...] about 7 Tips on How to Talk to Your Child About Scary News
Peaceful Parenting
Recently, my parenting focus has been on discovering peaceful responses to juvenile spats. Whether your children have only seen a safe home environment or are recovering from parenting trauma, finding ways to teach self-regulation and emotional intelligence can be very challenging. Here are a few suggestions that have helped me. 1. When my children are fighting, we … [Read more...] about Peaceful Parenting
Teaching About Race — from the Inside Out
In the midst of the Black Lives Matter uprising, the disparity between my light skin tone and my son’s dark skin tone has never been more pronounced. I first noticed our difference when in the year of his birth, Trayvon Martin, an unarmed youth, was shot and killed. As I was reading the horrific news, my older boy walked in wearing a hoodie, as he often does, and the hood was … [Read more...] about Teaching About Race — from the Inside Out
7 Tips to Ease Painful Goodbyes
It’s always easier to say goodbye when you know your child is well cared for and you are choosing the separation for one reason or another. When Mom is going to do something fun or at least distracting, the separation seems less sharp. It’s much harder when you are forced into that separation. The divorce culture certainly understands well how traumatic court-mandated … [Read more...] about 7 Tips to Ease Painful Goodbyes
10 Tips for Dealing with Typical Separation Anxiety
In all situations, there comes a time when separation is inevitable. Whether a death across the country or a business trip in another state mandates it, there will come a time when you have to pull the tiny fingers off of your own and step away from the leg hug so familiar to you. Some mothers have expressed to me the trauma experienced from the first morning of day care … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Dealing with Typical Separation Anxiety
What to Expect When Raising a Multiracial Child
As a white mother raising a multiracial child, I can assure you, the racial experiences for my son and me are not the same—that is the first lesson I learned. We are living in ever-changing times right now that have challenged us as adults and especially as parents. A spotlight has been cast on racism that is bringing to light a much-needed conversation. In the school of … [Read more...] about What to Expect When Raising a Multiracial Child