Parenting

VIDEO: The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Parenting

In her interview with PsychAlive Senior Editor Lisa Firestone, Dr. Donna Rockwell talks about the effects of mindfulness meditation on parenting. Watch or read the interview below.   Lisa Firestone:   How do you think mindfulness affects people in terms of being parents or why it could be valuable to parents? Donna Rockwell:  Wow.  Certainly, if… Read more »

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6 Things Kids Need From Adults to Feel Valued

Kids are a rather interesting group! They perceive the world entirely differently than adults do and their expectations far outweigh the typical adult’s. Their understanding of themselves in this big world makes them susceptible to a host of emotions, some good and some bad. Because children have not fully developed their persona, skills, and self-esteem,… Read more »

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Leaving Your Childhood Behind to Become a Better Parent

One mistake we make as parents is assuming that there is one way to parent that is better than all others. The reality is, there are countless methods of raising children, and many of them are perfectly healthy. Yet, no matter how many books we read, rules we make, or goals we set, there is… Read more »

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The Problem with Narcissistic Parents

A study by Stress in America recently revealed that Millennials (ages 18 to 33) report the highest stress levels of any generation. It’s not necessarily wrong to chalk these pressures up to increased competition in college and the workplace, an ailing economy, or a culture geared toward multitasking. But let’s consider something a little more… Read more »

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A Horrific Event – What Can We Learn From the Sandy Hook Shooting

Scary, disturbing, disgusting and virtually incomprehensible. These are the immediate feelings that overwhelm me while I watch the news unfold about the Newtown massacre.  As the details come to light, reports of the shooter’s history of “Aspersers”, social isolation and engagement in violent video games can be very alarming.  I know that there are many… Read more »

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Are you Parenting Like Your Parent?

Have you ever had one of those moments when something comes out of your mouth that doesn’t sound anything like you? You snap at your partner or scold your child, using words you never use or threats you’d never see through. Afterwards, you stand there stumped for a few seconds wondering, “Where did that come… Read more »

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Emotional, Physical, or Cyber: Bullying Hurts

          I have always disagreed with the pop­­ular “sticks and stones” phrase because the memory of painful words can be incredibly destructive to ones self-esteem.  I still vividly remember the day my sixth grade crush announced that I was the most unattractive girl in school.  I also remember the girl in… Read more »

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Creating a Legacy for Your Children and Grandchildren: An Interview of a Family Historian

Writing life stories has become all the rage. We’re in the so-called Memoir Revolution with volumes written about how to write your life story or memoir and how to produce it into a book. I’ve been journaling for years, and I wrote a memoir and had it published just recently. But a long time before… Read more »

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7 Ways to Stop Your Child from Becoming Violent

Seeing an image of a violent adult, it’s hard to imagine the innocent baby he or she once was. Is there such thing as being born violent? Are there really “bad seeds” when it comes to human life? Like so many qualities, violence involves a real interaction between genetics and environment. We may not be… Read more »

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Is Mental Illness a Bigger Threat to Kids than Physical Illness?

As parents, our children’s health ranks among our top priorities. When fall arrives and flu season begins, we notice every cough and feel for signs of fever. But how attuned are we to mental health symptoms in our kids? When do we first notice that our child may be suffering emotionally or engaging in behavior… Read more »

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