Raising Healthy, Happy Kids

Parenting is no easy job, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. For those of you that have chosen it, you should congratulate yourself. You are making a big difference in helping the next generation. Parenting and children have changed drastically. Personally, I think video games and the internet are a big part of it. Plus, all the name brands. How do you keep up? It’s important not to compare yourself to others. I know this is easy to do. I honestly, think we are wired to do this. But, it is self defeating and no one benefits. You don’t have to...

Remember when having children was just a dream. How did you imagine parenting would be? It’s easy to get caught up in the fairytale. Not only did you dream your children would play together and get along great, they will also get along great with their parents and everyone else. By now, I’m sure you realize this isn’t true. Not only is it not true for you, it’s not true for anyone else. All families have their shares of highs and lows. And, not all of our dreams turn out the way we imagined. Maybe, you’re still in a tiny...

Are you tired of feeling tired? Do you feel like you take care of everyone else? Then, this is the article for you. As a parent you have a responsibility to take care of your children. But, this doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself in the process. I have seen many wonderful children and families in my practice. I tell almost all of my parents, that they can’t forget to take care of themselves. It’s easy to overbook yourself and you child. If this goes on for too long, you will start to experience burnout which can lead to...

It’s no secret, that when your kids are happy you are happy. I hear this in therapy all the time, ‘I just want my kids to be happy.’ Your kids can be happy, but you can’t expect them to be happy all the time. As human beings we have a variety of feelings: anger, sadness and happiness to name a few. One of the first steps is letting your kids know they don’t have to be happy all the time, and give them permission to express other emotions. Children learn by example. If you only show happiness to your child...

Everyone always says, ‘It’s no big deal just ignore it.’ That strategy is alright some of the time but not all of the time. Ignoring mild misbehavior is a legitimate parenting strategy. It shows your little one that his/her antics won’t get your attention. This means he/she will be less likely to repeat it in the future. However, not all behavior should be ignored. If it is, it will lead to worse problems down the road. Keep a look out for these small misbehaviors and take action ASAP. Here are 6 little behavior problems you can’t ignore: Interrupting when you...

Parenting is no easy job. It’s also a job that never ends. If you have taken on this job, you need to congratulate yourself. You are responsible for the well being of another human being. Parents have a tremendous impact on a child. Now and in the future. Remember Freud, it’s true the way we relate to our parents is how we learn to relate to the world as adults. I find a lot of parents want to be perfect. If you feel this way, you are setting yourself up for failure. Nobody is perfect. You also set the example of...

We all want the same things for our children. We want them to grow up to be happy and healthy adults. They are actually only your children for a short time. As we all know, the time flies by. So, make the most of it while you can. This doesn’t mean that you have to give your child everything they want, or everything you didn’t have while growing up. Your child needs you the most, whether they want to admit it or not. The best thing you can do is spend time with them. Here are seven secrets that you...