Navigating relationships with parents can be complex and challenging, especially with so many deep, intense feelings involved. Not every mother/child relationship is loving and understanding, and sometimes an understanding can’t be reached, for one reason or another. With all the history between mothers and their children, it can be hard…
Trauma can have huge impacts on the life of the person who experienced it, but it can also have echoes in families for generations. Generational trauma occurs when someone experiences a traumatic event and the impact it has on that person is “passed down” or continues to be experienced by…
Kids depend on their parents in many senses, but especially emotionally. However, sometimes parents can seek a level of emotional support from their child that should be pursued and fulfilled in an adult relationship. This dynamic is called “emotional incest,” with the child taking on an inappropriate level of emotional…
Camille and Amma couldn’t be more different. Camille is a 30-something journalist who prefers to stay under the radar. Amma, on the other hand, is her more outgoing and rebellious kid sister. That said, there is one common thread between them: their mother Adora. Or more specifically, her abuse. If…
In many ways, the country is divided now more than ever before. As much as we’d love to see eye to eye with everyone around us, recent research* from Thriveworks shows that 54% of Americans have experienced some type of negative impact on at least one personal relationship as a…
This is not a fun topic to write about. Parent-child breakups are painful for everyone involved: for the adult children who feel torn between filial duty and self-protection; for the toxic parents who can’t understand what they did wrong; and even for the children those parents once were, who were…
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…
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…
