You may have heard the saying: “It won’t stick until it becomes a lifestyle.” Diet plans come and go. Some work while others are soon forgotten. Many of us have seen this when it comes to eating and exercise. But what about other aspects of your life, such as your family’s health? Are there any relational changes…
Do you have high expectations of yourself when it comes to parenting? Many of us try to make decisions for our child’s welfare before they’re even born. Especially as new parents, we want to make the best choices for their upbringing and decisions in life. This naturally brings about many questions as they’re growing up, such…
Children love to play games with their friends, but many times fun and laughter turn into resentment and sad feelings. What might appear as pettiness to us is actually a very upsetting situation in the making. Occasionally, when children’s feelings are hurt deeply enough, they choose to shut down communication with their friends, turning inward rather than finding a way to resolve…
Ahhh! You gotta love the end of school! So much time with the fam. It’s what we wait for all year long, right? Well… With teens in the house, some of that summertime bliss can heat up quickly if we’re not careful. Clear communication is a priority for many parents. However, talking with adolescents seems to…
Summer break is coming soon! It’s often thought to be a time of fun and relaxation away from the busy schedule of the school year. However, alongside the warm aspects of summertime, this season can also bring on boredom and self-absorption in kids and adults alike. So, what’s the best way to adjust one’s mindset from grumpy to…
Addiction begins with the hope that something ‘out there’ can instantly fill up the emptiness inside.” – Jean Kilbourne Do you think addiction can’t happen to your child? As a substance abuse counselor, I have seen many individuals from “good homes” with “good parents” who started down a bad path with drugs/alcohol during their teen years.…
There is so much information out there on how to parent—or how not to! The question we often ask ourselves is, “Are we doing enough?” I would dare say we’re doing too much. In my work with older teens (ages 16-19) and young adults (ages 20-26), I would say we could all use some assistance when it comes to…
Congrats! You’ve made it to the last stretch of this academic school year. Just a few more weeks to go! And just as the Fall kickoff was a bit stressful, these final weeks of class time and end-of-year activities can be demanding as well. So, let’s sharpen our survival skills to make it through to…
Just as important as getting a regular physical checkup, we need to know the status of our mental health to be sure we’re on the right track. But we first need to know what we’re looking for. What exactly is mental health anyway? Mentalhealth.gov defines mental health as “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It…
Choosing right from wrong is difficult sometimes, even for adults. For children who are surrounded by kids at school and in their neighborhoods with different values from their own families, making the correct decisions can be extremely hard. But for households that are involved in a consistent faith-based teaching environment at church and at home, the biblical…