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What’s Behind the Anger?

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Anger, though it may feel intense and hard to handle in the moment, is a normal human emotion.  It signals to us that something is not right, and we need to pay attention to it.

Parental Self-Regulation Helps Kids with Big Feelings

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As parents, we have no doubt observed our children (of all ages) experiencing big feelings. Big feelings are bound to happen, and big feelings are tough! I have been thinking about parent mindfulness a lot these days. The act of being mindful of ourselves as caregivers and being aware of what is going on in our bodies helps us be the calm, secure presence our kids need when big feelings come up for them. It is important to know what is going on in our own bodies and care for ourselves to meet the needs of our kids.

The Diagnosis Debate

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Most visits to a medical doctor involve a similar sequence of events; the patient presents their
symptoms and the provider goes through a mental checklist and/or administers a series of tests
until they eventually deduce the reason for the patient’s ailment – a broken bone, an ear
infection, a ruptured appendix, etc.

Don’t Make It Worse

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Don’t Make It Worse We all experience life differently, yet one commonality among us all is that we are all going to experience distressing events, as well as physical, emotional, and mental pain, at some point in our lives. Some of the distressing/painful experiences will be things that we can control, such as choosing to … Read more

Adults Need Play Time Too!

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Adults Need Play Time Too! It’s a no-brainer that play is an important part of childhood.  As children, play allows us to express our creativity, try on different roles, and develop important social-emotional skills that help us “play well” with others.  However, play for adults can be an afterthought and something we do not actively … Read more

Let’s Talk About Play

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Let’s Talk About Play As a parent of three myself, I know firsthand how easy it is to get sucked into the day-to-day management of a family. Before you know it, keeping up with children’s growing social calendars becomes a full-time responsibility (Wait, is it a soccer or volleyball night!?!?).  Then on top of the … Read more

Is it a BIG, Medium, or little deal?

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Is it a BIG, Medium, or little deal? I frequently use an excellent social-emotional curriculum for kids called Unstuck & On Target (Lynn Cannon, Lauren Kenworthy, et al).  It’s particularly useful with children and tweens who struggle with emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility, but its concepts can be useful to all parents when their kids–or they themselves–have a … Read more

A Few Thoughts on Self-Care

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A Few Thoughts on Self-Care The new year brings fresh starts and new goals, and I feel like it is a great time to think of our own self-care plans and what helps each of us recharge. We all have different definitions of what self-care might mean for us as individuals. Activities such as exercise, … Read more

Finding and Keeping Connection

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Finding and Keeping Connection Some years ago, around this time of year, I got a call from someone very dear to me. She told me she was making a New Year’s resolution that we would get together at least once a month. This is one of the few New Year’s resolutions that had true staying … Read more