Parent/Teen Purple Hibiscus Review
I love to talk about books with students, but reading together is also a great, not-too-intrusive way to gain access to your own child’s thoughts. I learned this firsthand when my 14-year-old daughter Emily and…
Helping kids (and ourselves) master big emotions
“I need you to spread the cream cheese on my bagel,” my 9-year-old son told me. I shook my head. “No, you don’t. Last I checked, Alex, you have working hands.” He tested my resolve.…
We’re Wired for Friendship, Whether We’re 5 or 45
I still have the handmade pillow I sewed with a friend in fourth grade. We wrote “best friends forever” in puffy paint across the surface. I also have the “slam book” my friends and I…
Letting Life Get Messy: Lessons from Kindergarten
A year ago, an eighth grade student came into my counseling office looking stricken. Over the weekend, Lara’s parents had told her they were moving from Maryland to a country in South America. Her father’s…
Ten Steps to Self-Care: The hardest advice to take is our own
Even my iPhone thought I was overextended. On a Sunday night, a message flashed across my screen: “There’s a lot going on tomorrow. There are nine events scheduled, and the first one starts at 4…
