If you or someone you know experiences painful memories this time of year, check out some of our blogs below to read different perspectives on relationships, learn ways to move past those difficult times, and learn how to continue to give and accept love from others.
Often the fun activities in life get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. When this happens, I encourage caregivers to take a few minutes to complete the following activity adapted from the “Together Facing the Challenge” curriculum.
A fixed mindset often focuses solely on the end result. A growth mindset focuses on the journey and the effort put in, and not on the end result itself. Neither of these are wrong nor bad, as encouraging your child is always a great thing to do. However, by parenting from a growth mindset, you instill the idea of resilience and learning to achieve goals. So, how can you move your family from a fixed to a growth mindset?
My husband lost his job at the start of the pandemic. Which was scary but he has since found a new one. My problem is he now works all the time putting in long hours – more than I think he needs to. I don’t mind caring for the kids and managing the house but I barely see him and he’s missing our kids' activities. I think he’s afraid to lose his job again. How can I get him to stop working so much?
When I was young, my uncle died. I was too young to understand but I’m pretty sure he died by suicide. Which I’d like to know more about but I don’t know how to ask because my family doesn’t talk about it at all. How can I broach the subject? And do these tendencies run in families?
As a family responder, working with youth who struggle with suicidality (deliberately hurting oneself with an intent to die) is a routine part of my job. Parents are often not provided with the same skill set as mental health professionals, yet they are the “first responders” when it comes to their child’s mental health. In my years working with suicidal youth and their families, I’ve noticed trends in the information I share with parents.
My mother passed away last year and since then the relationships with my siblings have been strained. We have squabbled over the smallest of possessions even though we are all adults. Gatherings that used to be fun now make me anxious. Is this still grief over a year later? How do we get back to how things were?
My 3-year-old granddaughter lives with her mom across state lines. She has been taken away from her for a 2nd time and now my granddaughter lives with a foster family. We were her foster family the first time. We are trying to get her back with us because there is no reason for her to be with a strange family. What can we do to help get her back with our family?
Often the fun activities in life get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. When this happens, I encourage caregivers to take a few minutes to complete the following activity adapted from the “Together Facing the Challenge” curriculum.
My teen has no motivation to take care of himself - I have to remind him to shower. He sleeps all the time, and he has gained a lot of weight. How do I know if this is typical teen behavior or something more?
Getting your teen to open up and participate in a genuine conversation can be difficult. So, how do you foster a genuine conversation based on truth, mutual respect, and understanding?