Staring at the test in your hand, you patiently await the results. The word “pregnant” reads across the tiny screen and you are experiencing what feels like a million different emotions at once. This was the answer you were waiting for. At this moment, your identity shifts. You’re no longer just yourself, you are also […]
Something scary has happened, and it has threatened your sense of safety. You feel your stomach in knots, sweat pouring down your face, and heart pounding. This is trauma, and it can be anything from witnessing violence to being present during a hurricane. Did you know that during a traumatic experience not only is your […]
You take a deep breath and look at the test. The results say pregnant. You are flooded with joy. You have wanted this for so long. Almost immediately after, you are overwhelmed with fear. You are an African American woman. You know that you are at risk; that chances of death during delivery are 2 […]
As a parent, the thought of your child being hurt by anyone is unimaginable. Child sexual abuse is particularly destabilizing because 90% of the time it is someone you and your child know and trust. You would do anything for your child, but hearing of the abuse your child endured may leave you at a […]
Have you ever laid awake after a midnight feeding with tears in your eyes wondering if what you are feeling is “normal”? You wanted this baby so badly. You expected to be overwhelmed with joy. While you do feel joy at times, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed with anxiety, frustration, and sadness for most […]
It has been a few days, or perhaps a few weeks since you gave birth to your little one. You love your child, but sometimes you feel sad, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Motherhood feels different than you expected, as you struggle to adjust to your new role. From the late night feedings, to endless diaper changes, […]
Are you feeling overwhelmed lately – as if you are thinking about everything and anything all at once? Maybe you are feeling more exhausted than usual (we’ve all been there). Perhaps your back or neck is full of tension, you’re having trouble sleeping, or you’re simply more careless. For most adults, days are filled with […]
The raging hormones, social pressures, and academic load a teenager carries can easily create the perfect storm of anxiety. It’s no wonder anxiety in teens is identifiable now more than ever. As a parent, wanting to remove anxiety or distress from your child’s life is only natural. But remember, it’s impossible to wash away your […]
(Today’s blog is a little different. A little more personal) I’ve been doing a bit of avoiding of the to do list today. It’s that time of the year for me again. Summer camps, birthday parties, and Epipen renewal. I knew there was a reason my stomach was churning this morning. […]
In the previous blog, I talked about Simple Communication Techniques On How to Talk to Your Teen About Sexting. With those tips you can begin to navigate awkward conversations related to sexting and sexual health. Furthermore, you can communicate with your teen without lecturing, blaming or yelling. But what if you find out that your […]
The teenage years are a time when your child starts to pull away from you and become more independent. As their brain grows and develops, this time in their lives can be tricky in terms of decision making and emotions. Communicating every detail of their sexuality is not something that teenagers want nor should do. […]
Children and teens are now growing up during a time of digital socialization. They’re texting, tweeting, snapchatting, all the things you didn’t do, or even knew would exist, when you were their age. Sometimes you may wonder what are they doing spending so much time on their devices? Socializing digitally is something that is ever-changing. […]
In Part 3 of this series, we finalize our discussion of the Food Allergies Hierarchy of Needs. Now that we’ve tackled Physiological and Safety needs, let’s move onto Love & Belonging, Self-Advocacy, and Fulfillment & Acceptance. Love and Belonging Once you’re on the same page about your child’s physiological and safety needs, it’s […]
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the “why” and “how” of co-parents getting on the same page when it comes to a child’s food allergies. In Parts 2 and 3, we continue the “how” with some help from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs comes from Abraham Maslow’s work in developmental […]
The Isolating Struggles Any parent who has a child with food allergies can tell you what a challenging experience it is. The constant fear of harm, anxiety about contamination/contact, accommodations that need to be made for safety, and more, take a toll on the food allergy parent. While other children are picking their favorite foods […]