It’s painful and frustrating when your shutdown teen won’t open up and communicate with you. You’re desperate to know what’s on your teen’s mind, but all you’re getting is one-word answers and shoulder shrugs. What gives? More common that you’d think (or like) pre-teens and teens tend to shut down when it comes to talking […]

One of the most exciting, nerve-wracking, and dreaded times of year is here: the few weeks before your teen goes back to school. Your teen right now is probably experiencing some  anxiety about what to expect this coming school year. The anxiety that arises this time of year is not uncommon. Lots of teens struggle […]

Do you have a persistently moody child who struggles to cope with life’s daily stress? Does she always seem on the brink of tears, or ready to fly off the handle, or goes to her room and isolates if her day isn’t going the way she’d like it to? You may have an emotionally overwhelmed […]

Feel like you are constantly nagging your child to study for her tests, finish her homework, clean up her room, or take out the trash? Is your child lacking in taking responsibility for all that she has to get accomplished? You are not alone. Most moms find themselves from time to time nagging, demanding, begging, […]

Do you have a child who strives to be the best? Gets down on herself when she doesn’t do as well on the test that she’d like? Stays up all night worrying about the classroom presentation the next day? States that she has to be “the best” and if she isn’t she feels “like a […]

You’re noticing your child seems to have more worries lately, is on edge, and frankly, just can’t seem to enjoy life. You’re thinking “Are these worries normal for a kid her age? How much is too much?” Before you get too worried, let me first start by saying anxiety is a normal part of life, and can […]

It’s less than three months before the end of the school year and your child is about to graduate to middle school. While this should be a happy time, you’re reflecting on your child’s past school year and you’re more concerned than elated. You’re constantly nagging your child to stay on top of her homework, […]

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “coping skills.” You might even have heard it in reference to your child’s behaviors: “She just needs some coping skills.” A coping skill is an action, something your child does to feel better in the moment. Especially when your child can’t change or get rid of whatever’s causing her stress, […]

Are you concerned that your child doesn’t have confidence in herself? Does she have difficulty standing up for herself, or maybe she gives up when the going gets tough? It could be that she has low self-esteem. Having good self-esteem enables your child to persevere through frustrating tasks, set goals for herself, make good decisions […]

One of the most frustrating and concerning experiences parents have is when their child comes to them and says “I hate school.” Sometimes this hatred for school escalates into a full-blown daily morning battle to get your child out of bed and out the door. Other times your child is coming home in tears and […]