Just thinking about the start of school can be stressful for kids. New teachers, new classrooms, new friends, new expectations, new routines. On top of that, getting back into the school year swing of things-the school day routine-is not only stress producing but it can be a real challenge after the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Researchers believe that the brains of humans evolved to feel calmed by repetitive behavior, and that our daily routines and rituals help us to manage stress. … [Read more...] about Smooth the Start to the New School Year … for all ages
Adolescents
Another Tragedy to Talk About.
I hate to have to write this blog. (And yes, I mean the strength of that word HATE.) Another and another and another mass shooting? I am spinning, filled with horror, disgust, and tremendous despondency. I am desperately searching for answers. A parent reached out yesterday, begging for a script for talking with her now high school age children. The majority of my previous blogs about tragic events (and I have written 23 of them, found under the category SAFETY), are directed at … [Read more...] about Another Tragedy to Talk About.
The College Admissions Scandal: This is about parenting
Yesterday the web exploded with the news of the college admissions scandal. Water cooler gossip overflowed with shock and, for most, disgust. This revelation, honestly, is not a surprise to me. I am horrified … but not surprised. Gaining admission to the college of your choice is no easy task these days. Each year it becomes more daunting. What if my child doesn’t get into college? What if he doesn’t get into the college? Fear and anxiety can lead to desperate measures, like … [Read more...] about The College Admissions Scandal: This is about parenting
To Post or Not to Post
Every time there is a school holiday, social media is plastered with photos of families and kids engaged in all sorts of vacation fun. Then there are those other pictures, the ones that reflect something more than family fun. This year, in particular, there was a peppering of photos that made me stop and ask, Why did [parent] post that photo? Obviously, a parent posts photos of his child, thinking it will be “liked.” My friends will love this one! No one intentionally … [Read more...] about To Post or Not to Post
Talking to Your Child About the Synagogue Shooting
How I wish I didn’t have to write about the mass murder of 11 human beings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. What a burden it is to have to explain to our children something so heinous, something that I cannot explain. I am sick to my stomach. As always, I am being asked, "Should I tell my children? How much should I tell my children? How can I make them feel safe in the world and especially when they go to religious school? How do I answer, 'But why?' How do I explain someone … [Read more...] about Talking to Your Child About the Synagogue Shooting
Whose Decision is it?
Self-Reliance is a hot topic in the world of parenting these days. My Self-Reliance seminars fill right up, standing room only. Actually cultivating self-reliance and its myriad component parts is not so easy. In fact, I believe it is harder for parents than it is for children. And I think it’s parents who undermine a child’s development of self-reliance in so many ways. High on the How-To list is allowing kids to make their own decisions. The ability to make decisions for yourself is a … [Read more...] about Whose Decision is it?