Research shows that between 40-50% of married couples in the United States eventually divorce.¹ While divorce can be complicated for everyone in the family, this systemic change is particularly challenging for children.

6.7% of Americans struggle with depression in a given year.¹ Depression is a complex condition that often results in people losing a sense of pleasure and meaning from life. It can also contribute to feelings of worthlessness, guilt, apathy, and sadness.

Resilience refers to the ability to recover from adverse events and cope with life’s stressors. Resilient kids tend to have higher self-esteem, take more healthy risks, and problem solve successfully.

In 1949, Mental Health America (MHA) began Mental Health Awareness Month. Every May, numerous organizations come together for advocacy and resources. This year, the theme is Tools 2 Thrive, an optimistic topic given some of the past year’s unique challenges. 

The ups and downs of life can be rough for both children and parents alike, especially during the current circumstances we’re faced with globally on account of the pandemic and its speculated aftermath. Life and parenting, in general, can feel extra scary right now as the future appears less certain with many possibilities at hand. This alone is enough for anyone to feel lost and in survival mode.

There are many factors that play a role in how a person develops through childhood and transitions into adulthood. Everything from genetics to home environment plays an important role in defining your child's future and potential.

In 1985, Dr. Vincent Felitti was the Chief of Preventative Medicine at Kaiser Permanente. He was doing a study on long-term health outcomes when he noticed that people who had traumatic pasts tended to have more dire health outcomes such as heart disease and diabetes. So strong was the trend, he turned the focus of his research to understanding more about how adversity in childhood related to health outcomes in adults.

Have you ever opened your mouth and heard your parents come out? Being intentional about what you say to and around your children can help mold who they become and how they deal with the world as they grow up.

One of the most basic needs of every child is the need for their parents’ approval. This is so important that it is at the basis of self-esteem, self-worth, and even their identity as they grow.