Blog
Reflecting to Build Greater Self-Awareness
I have been reflecting a lot lately on how we form our worldviews. Perhaps this stems from a desire to understand how the lines are drawn behind which we entrench ourselves. I consider myself to be pretty open minded, empathetic, and compassionate, and I am also a...
Tips for Helping Children Create Gratitude Journals in a Time of Chaos and Uncertainty
Someone recently asked me if I had made any New Year’s resolutions. I hadn’t. Last year I had made a number of them because it wasn’t only a new year, it was also a new decade. I had so many grand plans. And then Covid hit… All of my wonderful resolutions went out...
Find the Time to Reflect & Unplug
I was remembering what things were like when I was a kid: when getting home from school meant grabbing a row of saltine crackers, the jar of peanut butter, a glass of milk and gathering around the tv like moths to the light - Starsky & Hutch, Magnum PI, Dukes of...
Sending thoughts of love and comfort as we move into a new year…
Turning the corner on 2020 and moving past the darkest days of winter, towards a time when physical togetherness is on the horizon, and “Happy New Year!” is on repeat, I think it is important to take a moment to remember and reflect. We all have friends, family...
4 Ways Adults Can Support Youth Mental Health
Thirteen years ago, I was nearly in high school, about to get my first period, and less predictably, at the cusp of a series major mental health crises. To make matters worse, my friendship with the best friend I had relied on since kindergarten, was reaching its slow...
Dealing with Screen & Gaming in these uncertain times
A friend recently reminded me of the Dandelion and Orchid theory. While the majority of kids are believed to be dandelions (meaning they are better able to deal with stress), I think we can all recognize that some kids have a harder time dealing with their emotions...
Techniques to Manage Adverse Effects of Social Media
This is the photo I shared with my family and friends on Monday, Oct 19 (on what would have been Myles' 14th birthday). Pretty beautiful, eh? I shared it with them to let them know that I was okay. What this picture doesn’t tell is how I was struggling with my...
How to remove judgment when we listen to children
The interesting thing about listening is that, when we don’t separate our own internal dialogue from what we hear, we may unwittingly end up judging the person who is sharing with us. Conversely, when we share with someone, it is incredibly disheartening to not be...
Simple Strategies to Create Microcosms of Positivity
The stress and anxiety that we are continuously exposed to can be contagious and impact our relationships and our own feelings of safety, internal peace, and positive outlook. On a philosophical level, I can’t help but hope that the level of disruption we are...
How allowing ourselves to be vulnerable can help us during difficult times
There have been a lot of ups and downs as the school year commences. In-person classes are not what they were previously, and virtual classes keep getting postponed. There are promises for learning opportunities to come, that this too shall pass, and things will get...