7 mins read

Surgery for a Family Member

How do you talk to your child with autism when a member of his immediate family is about to have major surgery? My husband had major surgery six years ago but our child was only two. We didn’t really have to involve him. When he just had the same surgery last week, my husband and I had to come up with a strategy on how to tell and involve our now eight-year-old child. What did we do?

2 mins read

Do You Over-Praise Your Kids?

Thats beautiful, honey! I love it. You are such a great artist! Awesome job! Dont we want our kids to have positive self-esteem? So, complimenting them is a good thing, right? That depends. Self-esteem is a funny thing. We cant make our kids feel good about themselves by showering them with praise. In fact, that has the potential to actually do just the opposite.

7 mins read

Finding Comfort in My Fertility Journey

So, it is much easier to give advice on what NOT to say to people who are struggling to conceive. But, the truth is, there isnt really a lot you CAN say to someone who is struggling with this difficult journey. Like with many hard things in life, there are no words to capture the sorrow, the pain, the loss and the heartache that this path brings. A caring supporters words can seem trite or meaningless, even with the best intentions. I have had many words of comfort said to me over the years and there is one note I received that stands out above the rest. I received the following note back in 2007 from a close family member. I saved it and have continued to read it during the more difficult times. I share it now because it continues to bring me comfort and strength.

4 mins read

Become a Reading Model This School Year: Encourage Early Childhood Literacy

With the start of the school year, there is no better time than now to create a reading routine with your school-aged child, a toddler or even infant. As a parent, there is much you can do to develop your childs reading skills and set the stage for a lifelong love of books and learning. Show your child that reading is a year-round activity by making reading fun and interesting, and chances are he or she will be eager to read on his or her own.