4 Things You Shouldn’t Say When Your Kids Lie

I’ve had my share of bad friends in my life, but honestly, none of them impacted me as much as seeing my child deal with toxic friends. While I know I can deal with whatever, it really hurts my heart when I see my child struggle.When your child is dealing with toxic friends, it can be a hard situation to navigate. On one hand, you may want to swoop in and save them, while pushing the friends out of the picture, but on the other hand, you likely realize that you don’t want to make the wrong move and push your child even closer to the toxic friend.

Lackluster and inconsistent motivation are part and parcel of ADHD. From a lack of self-confidence to a desire for autonomy (and its corollary, defiance), tweens and teens with ADHD struggle to get and stay motivated — especially on the tough stuff — for myriad reasons.Deficits in executive function (EF) — the brain tools that allow us to plan, organize, prioritize, initiate, and meet our goals — are a major contributor to motivation challenges in adolescents with ADHD.

Eating can be a reflection of your lifestyle. Your lifestyle can significantly affect the way you eat. Factors such as time constraints, social influences, and mental health can all lead to unhealthy eating habits. Poor dietary choices can lead to weight gain, chronic diseases, and eating disorders like bulimia. A healthy lifestyle means eating balanced […]

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED) typically begin in adolescence, but they are increasingly seen in younger children.Researchers have linked the rise of eating disorders in children and teens to the pandemic and the ongoing youth mental health crisis, among other stressors.12Social media may also play a role in driving body image dissatisfaction and negative comparison among teens.3 What’s more, children and teens with conditions like anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk for developing eating disorders.4 ,5Eating disorders are complex but treatable conditions. Early detection greatly improves recovery and health outcomes.If you are concerned that your child is showing signs of an eating disorder like AN, BN, or BED, answer the questions below and share the results with your child’s pediatrician or a licensed mental health professional who is experienced in diagnosing and treating eating disorders.If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, contact the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) for support, resources, and treatment options. Call or text NEDA at 800-931-2237 or visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org to reach a NEDA volunteer.This self-test was adapted from materials provided in “Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Marisa Padilla is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her encouraging and motivating personality. She is a philanthropist, a life coach and a motivational speaker. She didn’t graduate from high school but that didn’t prevent her from chasing her dreams […]

Zehhra Mirza is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her wisdom and expertise. She is a Personal Development Coach based in India, Mumbai. Clients fondly refer to her as Coach Z. We are astonished with the depth of her understanding […]

Q: “How can I get my teen to buy into the importance of using an academic planner or at least writing things down? She thinks it is a waste of time and won’t listen to me when I suggest it.” — ProPlannerMomHi ProPlannerMom:One of the most frequent questions I hear from parents is how to get their students to use a daily planner. And as an academic/life coach who works daily with students with ADHD and executive functioning challenges (as well as the creator of an academic planner that teaches time management), my answer may surprise you.Using an academic planner is a terrific strategy for knowing what we need to do and when we have the time to do it.

When emotions are high, things can get ugly fast, especially when you are dealing with a tiny person who has HUGE emotions. During these moments, you may struggle to understand how to help your child move through their emotions and reach a sense of calm, but thankfully, we have some helpful tips that will help you tackle tough emotions like a boss.It’s important to remember that some adults even have problems dealing with big emotions, so we must understand that little one who hasn’t fully emotionally developed should be expected to have a difficult time doing so.

Ting Wong is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with her. She impressed us with her dedication and persistence. She spent most of her career in the corporate world struggling to find herself and her true calling in life. Until she stumbled upon life coaching. She […]

No parent sets out to play favorites with their children. However, because none of us are perfect, there may be a child you are showing favor to without even realizing it.It is normal for a parent to feel a stronger connection to one of their children, but that does not make you a bad parent. However, it’s important that you show your children the same amount of love and care, otherwise your children may become insecure and struggle with themselves.

It’s that time of year again when the world screams, “New year, new you!”Every January, without fail, we are inundated with messages about transforming our apparent less-than-optimal selves into something better. (“Shrink your waistline in 30 days,” and “Power up your mental health with these protein shakes,” read the subject lines in my inbox, to name a few.)I have been trying to create a “new” me for most of my life. The “old” me, according to most, was too quiet, too intense, too awkward, too sensitive, and too focused.

People become estranged from their parents as adults is not an uncommon thing, but even despite that, this can be a tough subject. There are many reasons why one decides to pull away from their parents, and if you don’t understand what the situation is, discussing it with the estranged person can be tricky.Even with that being said, you also don’t want to pretend like there is nothing to talk about, so when the topic comes up, it’s important not to say the wrong thing.

Being a new mom is both an exciting experience and a daunting one. You want what is best for your child, but because you are new to everything, there is so much to learn.Everyone has an opinion, and it can be mind-boggling to know the right route to take. Thankfully, that is where good advice from real-life moms can come in handy.

Now, research is showing more and more the impact of emotional support and the impact on the way we talk to our children. If you find that you are saying any of the following, don’t beat yourself up, just make sure to begin using the better phrases provided instead.I grew up in a time when people did not understand that saying things like “You are fine, ” “Stop crying,” or the old “Stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!” was emotionally invalidating. When you do this, you are making your child fear their emotions.

When my kids were young, it seemed like things would be the way that they were forever. However, life has a way of slipping by you.In very little time, our kids grow up. They go from needing us and listening to us, to becoming their people.

Not available January 31? Don’t worry. Register now and we’ll send you the replay link to watch at your convenience.People with ADHD face an elevated risk for substance use disorder (SUD).

An epiphany is a sudden revelation — an “aha” moment — that often strikes after you’ve adopted a new perspective.My goal as an ADHD coach is to help people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) view their condition differently. When they finally get to me, I know they’ve not yet experienced this “aha” moment because their stories are almost all the same: They’ve tried it all — to no avail — and they’re drowning in strategies for managing their life with ADHD.This is when I can step in to help them reach a crucial epiphany: They’ve been looking at the roots of their ADHD challenges — from procrastination and motivation to prioritization and productivity — all wrong.Here are the most important ADHD insights I’ve collected and shared with my clients over the years to help them separate their symptoms from themselves and reach their goals.Every time we think, we engage our executive functions — a set of cognitive processes that allow us to plan, organize, remember information, and initiate action on a goal.

“Self-reflection is necessary to dig beneath our own layers and visit the inner crevices of our heart and mind to develop an understanding of life.” ~Unknown

When you think of your child’s needs, what comes to mind? While children do have physical needs, like food, clothing, shelter, and exercise, they have emotional needs as well, and those should never be overlooked.While taking care of our children physically by ensuring they have the right nutrition, clothing on their backs, and a warm home to sleep in are all important, it is just as important if not more important to ensure their emotional needs are addressed as well. Think of it this way: we are our children’s emotional support network and emotional coaches. For them to flourish as people, their needs need to be met fully.

Tiny humans have big emotions, that much is true. As parents, we get to deal with a lot of feelings, and while approaching their feelings is of the utmost importance, the last thing you want to do is invalidate them.I grew up in a time in which my parents did not understand much about emotional invalidation.