“Self-care” is a popular concept these days. Our society is so filled with busyness that we seem to be flying through the days in a daze. Families’ schedules are harried. It seems the times of backyard forts and taking picnics to the park are a thing of the past. Now families are running from…
Have you had those moments where you feel like the worst parent ever? I sure have. Certain situations with our kids trigger the emotional center of the brain (the limbic area), reminding our subconscious of events from our childhoods that went unprocessed and so we react in an emotional, and sometimes uncontrollable, way. We…
Relationships require a lot of negation and compromise. The most important factor in negotiating with one’s partner is respect. When we feel respect and kindness toward the other person, we are open to hearing their point of view. In relationships, it is incredibly important to learn the art of kind negotiation early on, while…
Sometimes our kids need to fall in order to find out. It’s hard to let it happen, but we learn better through experience than we do by hearing about it from others. That’s not to say that we can’t learn vicariously through others’ encounters, but the lesson is absorbed more deeply when we experience…
Parenting can be overwhelming. There are so many different things that we “should” be doing that it can feel like we’re doing it all wrong. So I thought it might be helpful to give some brief, general guidelines to help parents narrow it down. The main thread that runs through these tips is attending…
When it comes to teenagers and their culture, it can be kind of terrifying. It’s tempting to be like the ostrich and stick our heads in the sand or plug our ears and sing loudly to drown out the reality of what kids this age are up to and hope they come out alive…
My kids have both reached the age of maturity. I’m done being in charge of them. Now all I have to do is completely accept them as they are and forever. Who cares what path they choose for themselves? What business is that of mine or anyone else’s? When I held each of them…
PARENT WORKSHOP Understanding and caring for today’s teen SATURDAY APRIL 28, 2018, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. KATIE’S CUP 502 7th St, Rockford, IL 61104 COST $50/person, $80/couple; includes coffee and lunch REGISTER at www.askmsmia.com or 608-314-6593 Adolescence has changed drastically in the last generation . . . let alone two or three. Certified…
Super Bowl Sunday began stressfully with three hours of treacherous driving in a snow storm around the slick twists and turns of country back roads to visit family in Wisconsin. After a nice visit, we set out toward home with the hope of making it in time for the start of the game, but…
Many parents struggle with how to help kids who are forgetful and disorganized. Learning executive functioning skills (thinking through a process before doing it) takes training, just like learning to play a musical instrument. There are many nuances of the skill and it takes lots and lots of practice. Often times we turn to…