What does your child see in you on a daily basis? Someone who is frazzled, tense, distracted? Do they see a strained or tired look on your face? Someone who is endlessly multitasking, trying to get it all done? Are you often pre-occupied, lost in thought, and not really fully present with your kids (or […]
How do children develop self-regulation skills – and who cares? First of all, what are self-regulation skills? Self-regulation is the ability to focus your attention, control your emotions, and manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These skills – often referred to as the executive functions of the brain – are critical for healthy child development […]
“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” – R.J. Palacio, Wonder Ever wonder what the world would be like if we lived by this maxim? What would your family life be like? – Your workplace? – Your child’s school? I’ve spent the past year of my life reflecting on […]
Many of us start off the new year with the best of intentions. We want to live healthier and happier, and yet, there always seems to be some big BUT getting in the way. Don’t you just hate that!
It’s that time of year when we seek to bring gifts of joy and good cheer to our family and friends. Yet often we get so swept up in finding the just-right gifts in stores, that we forget about the real gifts of love surrounding us all the time.
I remember vividly one day when I was a young boy, during catechism class when the stern, habit-headed nun asked us, “What day is Thanksgiving?” – referring to the upcoming holiday. Hands flew up, and everybody took a guess, “November 24th,” “Next Thursday,” “the third Thursday of November – no, the fourth.”
Stress is any stimulation, strain, or pressure. Not all stress is bad. In fact, short episodes of moderate stress can be good for us. Stress can literally turn us on with an adrenaline rush that helps us rise to the challenge.
Happy New Year! It’s that time of year again, when parents, teachers, and students are all pretty excited about getting back into school.
We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all have things that come to us fairly easily, that we’re naturally good at, and things that we struggle with. True or false?
When you get sucked into the “NOs” and “BUTs” of an argument, you are fighting an ongoing battle of exclusion – us versus them. When you come from an inner place of understanding and acceptance – which is reflected in the language of “YES…AND” – you are being inclusive. You are joining together to overcome a life challenge.