parenting Archives - Restoration Hope

Parenting Preteens and Social Media- Woof

Preteens and social media- Woof. This is a big topic. If you are feeling lost about how to approach this and what boundaries to set, know that you are not alone! This is the most common point of tension that I see between preteens and their parents and is genuinely very difficult to navigate. So […]

Divorce, Alienation, and Estrangement

Divorce can be a difficult, ugly, and complicated situation. Divorce can come with intense emotions and that means it can also come with a lot of conflict. With conflict can come alienation and in the mast several years, family courts have become far more aware of this family dynamic. Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is “defined […]

How Social Media is Training Our Youth

Regardless of which generation you’re from, most people are familiar with social media. It’s morphed over the years, but the idea is the same—be seen and connect with others. Social media can be great. I’ve been able to keep in touch with people from years ago. I love seeing old roommates, friends, coworkers, and family […]

Why Has There been an Increase in Teen Violence?

Violence has become all too real in our lives. Mass shootings at public places, schools, suicides—it’s all become terrifyingly common. We ask, “Why do these things keep happening?”. It doesn’t seem to make sense. While we cannot reconcile the horror of these events, the truth is that we can try to make sense of it. […]

Supporting Children and Teens with Mental Health Concerns

Supporting children and teens with mental health concerns can feel like a tremendously daunting task. Nothing is quite like the sense of powerlessness that comes with watching your child struggle and not having a road map for what supporting them should look like. There’s no question that children and teens today are facing new challenges […]

12 Topics to Discuss with Your Child About Social Media

The vast majority of kids and adolescents are on social media. In some ways social media creates an outlet for creativity, connection, and fun. At the same time, social media comes with some downsides, whether it’s in regard to physical safety or mental health. Rates of anxiety and depression have always been higher in the […]

Addressing behaviors is not the same thing as treating trauma

It happened again, the meltdown over homework. But I don’t just mean tears and whining, I mean a fit to end all fits. The screams pierce your ears, things are being thrown, the book is being torn. The snack you offered is now all over your shirt. It’s one thing when a three-year-old has a […]

Quit watering your kids’ grapes

No, listen, that’s not gibberish. I was recently in Napa and while I was there, not only did I learn how they make sparkling wine using the same method as those in Champagne, France but I also learned about how it’s important to not water grapes. It may not be true for all vineyards, but […]

Helping Kids with Behaviors: Part 4

Co-regulation The say the eyes are the window to the soul, but I’d have to say they’re the mirror. Ever heard of mirror neurons? They’re interesting little guys. I’ve heard there are a few versions of the story of how they discovered these neurons, but basically, they were studying monkeys and their brain activity. During […]

Helping Kids with Behaviors: Part 3

Re-dos Did your mother have a phrase she used when you were a kid that has become engrained in you? The phrase that comes to my mind literally makes my skin crawl. “I don’t know who you think you’re talking to…”. I just shivered. While maybe I wouldn’t go with the same phrasing, I do […]