A Boy Needs His Dad
From the moment a boy separates from his mother’s placenta, the journey with his father begins. It’s a connection as vitally important to his growth—from an infant to a man—as the umbilical cord has been to his development. Continue . . . We can forget just how vitally important fathers are in the lives of […]
We Mourn Endings . . . at Any Age
Because things are always in the process of change, grief is inevitable. Proceeding through life creates a sense of loss, because something must be left behind. Consequently, grief arises whenever we move, change careers, or retire and leave the workforce altogether. We mourn endings such as when we grow up and leave home, when friendships cease, and when […]
Where’s a Mother’s Heart?
“Making the decision to have a child—it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” —Elizabeth Stone I don’t know about you, but that speaks to me. I have two sons, and although they’re full-fledged adults now, they’re never far from my heart-thoughts. From the earliest days […]
Spoiled for Life
Jail time is a common occurrence for John. Why is that? He has a nasty habit of picking fights and throwing fits when he doesn’t get his way. Even in jail, if people don’t cater to John’s demands, he resorts to threatening and hostile behavior. John’s behavior hasn’t changed much since he was a small […]
Don’t Spend Your Life Being Little
Stalled in Chicago traffic wasn’t Carrie’s idea of a wonderful day. Planted in the driver’s seat, she silently broiled. Her anger didn’t stem from her two passengers, her husband and mother-in-law. Instead, she was furious with herself. Getting trapped in traffic was ohhhh soooo avoidable, because Carrie was adept at driving Chicago, maneuvering skillfully and comfortably […]
The Latest Wow: Fire Your Inner Critic!
I had a client tell me once: “Every time I put myself down, I’m affirming that my mother was right.” Click here to read about Dawn and Doug and how their childhoods were fertile soil for the formation of negative self-talk and low self-worth.
The Latest Wow: Teenage Daughters Trigger Psychosis in Their Mothers
I know this is true, not because I had daughters–I had sons–but because I had a mother, and I know what I did to her. She vented about it regularly. Well, now that I’m a therapist, I hear other mothers vent. Just like my mother, I’m certain they can’t help themselves. They must vent. Maybe […]
How to Get Hippos to Eat Their Veggies (Not Easy)
According to Newton’s Laws, any force we exert will result an equal amount of force in the opposite direction. Somehow this principle escapes us when our child refuses to do something. My clients, Sara and Mark, are keen examples. Force hasn’t worked–their efforts are backfiring when it comes to their seven-year-old son, Brendon. “He just doesn’t […]