In hindsight, there’s no mistaking that recent years have brought a whole host of changes for everyone — namely, the pandemic, vaccines, and social movements. With these changes, there’s been a lot to take in; but some of the bigger subjects have affected our personal connections with the people to…
People don’t sever family relationships casually; it’s usually a long, painful process of recognition and internal struggle. Family estrangement is often caused by the negative behavior patterns of toxic parents, which can include manipulation and mockery. The decision to cut off toxic parents is a heavy burden, and it brings…
I have a patient, Ben, who used to dread heading home for the holidays. Due to the constant criticism from his parents, he and his family found it extremely difficult to relax and enjoy themselves. As soon as Ben walked through the door of his parents’ home, he felt ill…
New research shows that if parents want to successfully reduce their children’s screen-time, they should cut back on their own screen-time. Kids are spending more and more time playing on iPads and sitting in front of the TV, which feeds an increase in obesity among children. The researchers sought to…
Merging two families into one can be a challenge, as kids can be hesitant about the new family dynamic. That said, it can be done successfully: so long as parents take it upon themselves to improve the bond between both “sides” and make the transition as easy as possible. First,…
Parents dread the temper tantrums their children throw, but there are proactive steps they can take to prevent them from happening in the first place. First, set expectations: make the rules and boundaries known. For example, before going into the grocery store, explain to your child that you’re only getting…
Parents can and do gaslight their children, or manipulate them to question their sanity and cause them to doubt their own judgment and memory. Oftentimes, parents who engage in gaslighting have narcissistic personality traits and/or suffer with alcohol/drug abuse. Parents may outright lie to their children, discredit their thoughts, cause…
Positive parenting is a loving and gentle approach to parenting that helps to foster healthy relationships between parent and child. There are a handful of skills that parents can practice to accomplish positive parenting, of which includes validation, balance, listening, and support. Validation involves accepting your child’s feelings as they…