Decades ago, becoming a parent was almost an expectation. Today, some American politicians are criticizing women who choose not to have children. It’s important to recognize that remaining child-free isn’t unique to American wome…
Handling a child's defiant behavior can be tough for parents, no matter how old the child is. While managing it can be challenging, the good news is that you can significantly reduce defiance within 10 days by focusing on a f…
Many human concepts don’t exist without words like the idea of gravity, a corporation, or a legal case. For most of us, it’s hard to imagine life without language, as our minds are filled with these abstract ideas that feel as re…
Most research on parenthood has traditionally focused on how children benefit from having a father figure. However, more attention is gradually being paid to the value of fatherhood for men themselves. Not only do children benefi…
Developing social skills may be easier and more fun than you think. He lping children build impulse control and social skills can be an enjoyable process. In fact, many families already have the tools to do this, likely tucked aw…
My desire to know what was wrong was exactly that: 'my' desire. What my child really needed was space. One evening, my child came home clearly upset his energy tense, his silence heavy. Trying to keep my own worry in chec…
Parents of teens with misophonia may struggle to understand what reasonable accommodations look like and worry that if they over-accommodate, their child may not be prepared for "the real world" outside the home. These …
I spend much of my professional time helping clients, both adult children and their parents, navigate the sometimes challenging and emotional aspects of parent-child relationships. While the details and situations vary, adult chi…
The far reaching benefits of growing up in a mentally healthy family. Ji m grew up in a chaotic home. His father was frequently away, and his mother, struggling with substance abuse, had little energy to care for him. His parents…
If you were raised by a narcissistic parent, breaking free from the effects of such an upbringing can be life changing. By "narcissistic," I mean individuals who meet the criteria for narcissistic personality disorder o…
Being a parent doesn’t end when your child becomes an adult, but the dynamic certainly shifts. Navigating this new phase can be challenging, especially if your adult child seems to rely on you too much, constantly asking for help…
It’s easy to want to ask your child, “How was your day at school?” as a way to get some insight into how their day went. However, you’re likely to get a brief, one-word answer if you ask the same question day after day. If you’re…