As kids get older, they make a valiant effort to train their parents out of being “embarrassing.” When I was a kid, being “embarrassed” by my parents meant that they were caught singing or dancing in the car, or called me “Curly Sue” in front of someone, or tried to set me up on a … Read More
friendship
Supporting your LGBTQ Child
Parents and caregivers of LGBTQ youth have a significant opportunity to positively influence their child’s well-being and future. LGBTQ youth whose parents and caregivers support them have better overall physical and mental health, higher self-esteem, and are less likely to use illicit drugs. LGBTQ youth who are accepted by their families are much more likely … Read More
Honoring all Moms
Just as we know eventually, spring will arrive; we know that the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day in America. You might wonder how this day got started except by the card, candy, and flower companies. It started with humbler and less commercial origins. Julia Ward Howe sponsored Mother’s Day around 1870 to encourage … Read More
The Challenge of Children’s Mental Health
I grew up in an era (the 50’s and 60’s) when mental health was not discussed at all, let alone considered as something that children had. Children could have separation anxiety; nervous stomachs, concentration problems or were labeled as “sensitive”, “angry” or “different”. Adolescence was supposed to be somewhat difficult and the behaviors we now … Read More
Every 13 Seconds
In the time it took you to count to 13, someone in this country took their own life. Think of it. Counting to 13 doesn’t take that long. A friend, a family member, a colleague, a neighbor, a co-worker, a stranger, a celebrity are dead, in the time it took to count to 13. Suicide … Read More
5 Tips for Back to School Mental Health
The summer has flown by and schools are beginning to open their doors and sharpen their pencils for the fall semester. Whether your kids are excited to go back to class or desperately holding on to the last few days of summer vacation, the change can have a major impact on mental health. Here are five … Read More
The Importance of Staying Connected
Growing up, my parents led very active social lives. They went out on weekends with their friends, got involved with charities, enrolled in continuing education classes and volunteered for causes they believed in. I have watched my parents’ generation age and have learned so much from their example. Although some-including my mom-have passed away, the … Read More
9 Reasons to Play
When was the last time you actually played? You know, the kind of play we did as children–running, jumping, loudly singing, swinging our arms, using our imaginations to make up silly games. That kind of play. We used to spend countless hours losing ourselves in playtime and our parents often had to remind us to … Read More