One of the toughest aspects of parenthood is dealing with the anger, rage and withdrawal that teenage boys direct toward their mothers. These turbulent emotions are unsettling, often leaving mothers confused and helpless. Understanding the challenges that boys face during these years can help mothers maintain their own stability while supporting their sons’ development. Boys need time alone … [Read more...]
My father the POW, ‘Fighting on Film’
I am the daughter of a British army prisoner of war at Changi, a notorious WWII camp in the jungles north of Singapore. My father, Percy Herbert, went on to become a film actor. His early movies included the Oscar-winning "The Bridge on the River Kwai," directed by David Lean. Ironically the film was based on the very same concentration camp where my father was held for four years. Forced to … [Read more...]
At the movies: the observer and the observed
Hollywood has long presented psychotherapists and analysts as villains or saintly saviors, but around the turn of the century they became central characters in a handful of popular and hilarious comedies. Consider “Analyze This” (1999) and its sequel “Analyze That” (2002), both starring Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro. Then there’s “What About Bob?” (1991), pairing Bill Murray and Richard … [Read more...]
Children at risk: signs, signals, support
None of us wants our child to suffer from depression. No one wants their child to experience suicidal ideation, but unfortunately, some do. Since 2011, the number of children, teens and young adults committing suicide has doubled. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people between the ages of 10 and 24, resulting in … [Read more...]
The Legacy: Time to deal with it.
How many times have you heard someone say, "I'll never be like my father" (or mother). Maybe someone said to you, "You know, your grandfather had a temper just like yours." How shocked you were to hear such a false accusation. You protest, "Not me," or, "I’m never going to raise my children the way I was raised. ... "I will never be impatient like my father, or say those mean things to … [Read more...]