It’s just a sip, right? A family celebration, a clink of glasses, and a curious child asking to taste what the grownups are having. Many parents shrug and say yes, thinking it's harmless—or even helpful—to take the mystery out of alcohol. But what if that innocent taste plants a seed? What if that moment sets off a ripple effect that stretches far beyond childhood into adult habits, health, and emotional patterns?
Words can comfort, heal, and inspire—but they can also hurt in ways we don’t always recognize until it’s too late. When it comes to children, the words they hear from the adults in their lives become the building blocks of how they see the world—and themselves. But what happens when those words are filled with criticism, sarcasm, or rage? The bruises aren’t visible, but the pain runs deep and lingers long after the words have been spoken. Let’s talk about verbal abuse, how it shapes a child’s heart and mind, and what we can do—right now—to stop the cycle and begin to heal.
When a new baby joins the family, it can feel like the whole house holds its breath—anticipation, excitement, and, for older children, an undercurrent of confusion or even sorrow. The love you feel for all your children is boundless, but to a child used to being the center of your world, that love can suddenly feel uncertain. This article is here to help you gently navigate those stormy waters.
Making friends isn’t always easy for kids, but with the right guidance, they can develop the social skills they need to connect with others. Learn how to support your child’s confidence and friendships through encouragement and simple strategies that make a lasting impact.
Raising emotionally intelligent kids equips them to handle life’s challenges with empathy, resilience, and confidence. Learn 10 proven tips to nurture your child’s EQ.
Child growth standards and 'normal' development often oversimplify the unique journey of childhood. Learn why every child thrives in their own way.
Discover the 4 key rules for successful co-parenting after divorce. From mutual respect to consistency, learn how to navigate the challenges and build a healthy co-parenting relationship.
I don’t believe I have regrets. But don’t we all regret something? At least one thing? Sure, there is that artistic life I missed, the dangerous and the reclusive. But what if I had embraced that life in some way? What would that have done to my...
When conception and pregnancy come with effort, or not at all, the risk is to set oneself up to feel like a failure or, alternately, to try everything in the hopes of being “good enough” to conceive.
Before I was a mother, I was a philosopher. As such, I can offer no cut-and-dried answers to every quandary. Rather than adhere to one philosophical worldview, I use a handful of ideas we can treat as a cornerstone of “commonsense morality.”
‘Gross negligence’: why a parent like James Crumbley can be found guilty for their child’s crimes.
For a while after my family returned from a year of travel around the world, it seemed we had ruined sightseeing for my children.
As a parent of an estranged adult child attempting to repair the rupture and reconcile, what do you need to consider or do to make that happen? What needs to be in place for your reconciliation efforts to be successful?
How having conversations with children builds their language — and strengthens family connections
Many parents worry about how much time their children spend watching screens. While some time on devices is fine for entertainment and education, we also know it is important children do things away from TVs and devices.
My child’s pain is always calling me into a new relationship with my highest intentions. The difficulties I encounter smooth the rough edges of my heart and mind, giving me more wisdom, balance, and capacity as long as I have the courage to be near the pain.
I had longed to be a mother and felt so fortunate that I was afforded the luxury of being home with her. So against all my feminist leanings, we settled into very traditional family roles, with me spending a lot more time with Sammi than he did.
All parents I know have gone through hard times with their children. And the holidays with either unexpressed or expressed expectations add more pressure to the family system.
The thing about divorce that is hard to remember is that as much as it is happening to you, your partner, and your children, it’s also happening to everyone else in your little world. Your friends, your extended family, everyone is affected.
Climate crisis: what to consider if you’re questioning whether to have children
States sue Meta for knowingly hurting teens with Facebook and Instagram ? here are the harms researchers have documented
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