Summer break is about a month away, and while this is a happy time for most, children living in trauma and adversity often feel extra stressed this time of year. I mean, Moms don’t call it “Maycember” for nothing. We are also stressed, which kids will pick up on. The
I’m just going to say it, Mother’s Day sucks for some people. As this day approaches each year, a familiar feeling creeps over me. It initially appears as irritability and fatigue, but eventually reveals itself as my old friend, grief. I lost my mom suddenly in 2005, and later became
We’ve all heard the warnings: “Don’t distract your child from their feelings,” or “They must sit with their emotions to learn resilience.” As a trauma therapist and a mom myself, I found myself nodding along with these messages… until reality taught me otherwise and I learned the secret to co-regulation
Introducing a New Approach to Supervised Visits When children enter foster or kinship care, they lose more than just their home and their parents. They also lose: Connection to their culture/religion/rituals A sense of belonging Their role in the family or community Friends, teachers, coaches, mentors Important items …Which
I was supposed to be interviewed on BBC News last week about a topic I care deeply about, how public we allow our children to be online and in the media, but unfortunately, it was canceled due to a White House press conference. Still, I think the conversation is too
Welcome to the December edition of the Childhood Trauma Newsletter! As a trauma therapist, I’ve noticed how challenging transitions can be for children, particularly when it comes to returning to school after summer, fall, or winter breaks. And, as a pandemic mom, I’ve realized that even more children are reluctant
Welcome to the November 2024 Childhood Trauma Newsletter. This month, we have over 400 new subscribers, and I’m so honored you’re here! Trauma-Informed Guidance for a Peaceful Thanksgiving Holiday Children impacted by any kind of family separation, whether it be foster care, adoption, or divorce, don’t have to feel thankful
Parenting Under Pressure The other night, I yelled at my kid. It was definitely a moment when my emotions got the best of me. I’m not proud of it. I sometimes find myself in a strange role. I’m supposed to be an “expert” in trauma-informed parenting, and yet I
School should be a safe haven where children learn, grow, and develop healthy relationships. However, for children who have experienced trauma, certain aspects of the school environment can accidentally trigger feelings of fear, anxiety, or helplessness. These “hidden triggers” often go unnoticed by well-meaning educators and peers, unintentionally retraumatizing the very
This week, July 15-21, 2024, is Birth Trauma Awareness Week in some parts of the world. I can’t find any information about whether the United States is participating, but I’m not surprised. The U.S. remains a consistent outlier in maternal care compared to other developed nations. Despite being one of
