One of my favorite series in recent years is HBO’s drama “Succession,” about the Roy family, led by the hugely flawed and highly successful aging patriarch Logan Roy. He is a media and entertainment mogul much like Rupert Murdoch. Logan is emotionally manipulative, pitting his adult children against each other to determine his successor. His moral … [Read more...]
Dysfunctional & Disagreeable? 6 Signs Your Family’s Communication Needs Work
Family life can be troublesome. Yes, blood is thicker than water, but, boy, can family members make your blood boil! If you find that your family struggles to communicate and you disagree on everything, then you’re going to need to work on your communication skills. We’re all different, and we don’t see eye to eye all the time. So, is your … [Read more...]
Is 50/50 Parenting a Realistic Goal?
Should parenting be a 50/50 effort all the time? Can parenting be a 50/50 effort all the time? In the beginning, this is unrealistic. One parent may be more involved in hands-on parenting. Meanwhile, the other is more involved in making money to facilitate helping the more hands-on parent bond with the newborn. Later, depending on schedules … [Read more...]
Why Celebrating Parental Wins Matters
We live in a culture that is subtly competitive nearly all of the time. This goes triple on social media. Comparison regarding the meals you cook, the number of ab crunches you can do, or the amazing vacations you take is a daily contest on the net. Everyone is constantly measuring up to the alleged standards of the crowd. Such a mindset can create … [Read more...]
Normal or Enough is Enough? Assessing & Addressing Sibling Fights
You may not be ready for the answer, but let’s begin with a question: what is the most common form of family violence? Answer: sibling fights. On average, siblings fight around eight times per hour. Far too often, these interactions are dismissed as “normal” without really getting to the heart of them. Sure, some conflict and … [Read more...]
People Can’t Accept & Respect Your Decision to Remain Childless? How to Respond
Almost half of women under 44 have never had children. Yet, we still live in a society that equates womanhood with motherhood. Mature men are supposed to be fathers. Tell someone you have decided to remain childless? Well, then you can practically guarantee a condescending or even disrespectful reaction. It may be unintentionally disrespectful, … [Read more...]
Help! I’m a New Mom Struggling to Connect with My Newborn
Contrary to pop culture and TV commercials, not all moms immediately bond with their newborns. At least one in five women will take a little longer — and there is nothing “wrong” with that. It's important to recognize that bonding is an emotional attachment. Like all emotional attachments, each mother-child bond is unique and is a process, short or … [Read more...]
Withdrawn & Eating Meals Their Room? What To Do About Your Teen
You never think it will be your child. But suddenly, you watch as your teen begins to withdraw. They spend more and more time alone in their room. Well, not fully alone. They always have their devices with them. Soon enough, they don’t even want to eat meals together. You want to respect their choices but what if those choices seem … [Read more...]
What We Can Do to Authentically Support BIPOC Kids Today
BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. It’s designed to highlight the unique forms of racial stress and sometimes trauma this demographic may face. The racial trauma experienced by BIPOC kids can result in a vast array of issues and symptoms, e.g. Anxiety Hyper-vigilance Behavioral concerns Loss of concentration and … [Read more...]
Selecting a College is Hard! 6 Tips to Support Your High School Senior
Picking a college is hard — under any circumstances. High school seniors all over the country have been dealing with this challenge for a long time. These days, however, there are new factors to consider. It feels like the entire world has changed. College life is certainly not immune to this massive shift. Students are suddenly weighing new … [Read more...]