If you’ve ever knelt on the kitchen floor next to a sobbing child because their banana broke in half, you’re not alone. Big feelings tend to show up over the smallest things, and right as your little one starts to unravel, you can feel yourself starting to unravel too. In those moments we just want … Read more
When I first moved to Virginia and started work at FamilyFirst, my older daughter had just graduated from college, and my younger daughter had just graduated from high school. In one sense, none of the ways I identified myself – mother, wife, daughter, friend, psychologist – had changed, but the details of every one of … Read more
Every relationship has seasons that feel harder than others. Maybe talks that used to feel easy now turn into fights. Maybe you and your partner have started staying away from certain topics because you already know how it will go. Or maybe nothing feels “wrong,” exactly, but the closeness you used to have feels buried … Read more
The final year of high school is full of “lasts,” and each one can quietly tug at your heart in different ways. By the time college move-in day arrives, you’ve already been practicing letting go of your child in a hundred small ways. Still, nothing quite prepares you for that final hug, the walk away … Read more
Do you ever find that your brain gets stuck on certain thoughts and it feels nearly impossible to shift your focus onto something else? It wouldn’t be so bad if those thoughts were about the amazing vacation you just took, the delicious meal you’re going to cook tonight, or a soul-healing phone call you just … Read more
Midlife and the beginning of an empty nest season can be a time of significant change and transition. You may find yourself with more free time, a quieter home, fewer people depending on you, and less daily chaos. While many parents look forward to this chapter, it can also bring upsetting feelings. Empty nest syndrome … Read more
Healthy boundaries in relationships are clear limits that help you communicate your needs, protect your emotional and physical well-being, and maintain mutual respect. Effective boundary setting means identifying what is important to you, expressing those limits clearly, and taking consistent action when those limits are not respected. While you often hear people talk about the … Read more
When a child experiences emotional dysregulation at home, parents often feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure of what to do next. Big emotions can quickly turn into yelling, shutdowns, aggression, or complete emotional overload for both the child and the parents trying to help. In these moments, many parents instinctively try to reason, correct, or discipline. … Read more
All students struggle from time to time, but if your child is working hard and still falling behind or if school is becoming a source of frequent frustration, it may be a sign of something deeper. Your child may process information differently, or there may be an underlying learning or attention issue. Here are some … Read more
Those of us in Northern Virginia have a recent memory of a tornado watch. Schools let out early because of a worrisome forecast of strong storms, high winds, and the possibility of tornadoes. Not too much seemed to come of it, thankfully, but it was likely the first of a series of tornado watches for … Read more
