While psychology -- in particular psychoanalysis -- so frequently focuses on early childhood experiences, it's surprising to find that relatively little has been written on the subject of siblings. Lately, however, researchers have found that in many ways one's siblings have a great impact on a person -- in childhood, of course, but also on the direction of later life. How that person views … [Read more...]
Playing the money game with kids
So much pressure these days to work harder and longer hours. Meanwhile, the economy continues to ride an unpredictable roller coaster. It's important to pause and look closely at not only how we budget our money but what really, at the end of the day, brings our families pleasure and connection. So often our kids will come up and say, "Mom (or Dad), can I have 5 bucks for this and that?" … [Read more...]
From childhood, we remember intimacy
I was interviewed recently by an Israeli journalist on the topic of childhood memories. Karen Tsuriel's article is reprinted here, in part, with permission: In a conversation from her home in Los Angeles, Dr. Karina Wood said that "most things children remember in their adulthood are not extraordinary events, but mostly the daily simple things that involved love exchanges." "For me, it's the … [Read more...]
Childhood depression: signs, solutions
Sad to say that many children do suffer from depression. While we as parents do not want to believe this is so, we must acknowledge that at times our children do suffer. Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of childhood depression and how to deal with them as a parent makes all the difference. The most important part for an adult is to notice -- to be mindful of what is happening and … [Read more...]
Divorce and kids: How to help them
Even if a divorce is amicable and mutually agreed-upon, the children become particularly vulnerable. Seeing their parents break up brings major trauma. All children, somewhere deep inside, wish that everyone would stay together in a perfect world. When that doesn’t happen, there's a shattering that must be addressed. The pieces of valuable lives must put back together with sensitivity and … [Read more...]