I recall going on walks with my grandson. In his neighborhood, every home had a fence surrounding a front garden. As young as two or three years old, whenever he saw an open gate, he closed it. It seemed logical to him to take care of [...]
What kind of parent are you? When you hold a baby in your arms for the first time, isn’t it an amazing, overwhelming feeling? Are you bursting with love? You wonder how this tiny miracle of life is going to grow up. You consider your [...]
You grow up and decide to become parents. If you are anything like me, you wish for a crystal ball to forecast the results of your parenting. You want to provide good parenting, healthy parenting. You have some ideas about parenting from your parents, caregivers, [...]
In the past, “Wait ‘til your father gets home!” was a threat to a misbehaving child. The child was supposed to worry about facing serious punishment when the father returned from work. This adage is no longer effective for a variety of reasons. Threats do [...]
Now that life is resuming, you may experience a realm of emotions about going out. As much as you may feeling like leaving your home, simultaneously you may experience ambivalence, apprehension, insecurity. Your children may feel elated about returning to school but they also may be [...]
Have you ever given thought to whether you treat your kids as well as your friends? Are there ways you unwittingly instigate sibling rivalry? Erma Bombeck was an American humorist who brought this question to light in her story Supposing I Treated My Friends Like [...]
During the Coronavirus Pandemic, parents are trying to figure out how much screen time children should be using while at home. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, children 8-12 years old average almost 6 hours of screen time a day and [...]
The most important messages we can convey as parents are promoting a sense of security and the feeling of unconditional love. Positive parenting provides a buffer against adversity. It teaches us how to respectfully give and receive care and compassion. It models trust, fairness, consistency and [...]
Now that the holidays are over, some parents have begun noticing an unanticipated change in their children. Consider how endowed these children were during the holidays, not only in terms of presents but also yummy treats, late bedtimes, entertainment, no homework, a lax of chores, and [...]
Monday October 19, 2015 I attended a luncheon at the Children’s Program of the Betty Ford Center to commemorate significant milestones reached this year along with new developments. Helene Photias, Manager of the Children’s Program, was a gracious host at this event. Jerry Moe, National Director [...]
