More Than Happy

Thanks for the reminder on how lovely of a time Fall is!

Fall isn’t just about pumpkins and sweaters—it’s about slowing down, letting go, and rediscovering yourself.

This season, I’m choosing comfort, celebrating all the colors of my personality, and harvesting the dreams I want to bring to life.

Which reminder do you need most this fall?

💯💯💯

The tweens and teens are not always as okay(ish) as they lead us to believe. I also hear this from other therapists working with tweens and teens right now.

This was another difficult year for these kids. Even though they were back in school full time, many felt under-prepared for the expectations they faced. Many struggled socially and wondered why. So many young people seemed to struggle socially.

Relational aggression returned - in a major way. Bullying in person resumed. The social gap that occurred during the pandemic was apparent as tweens and teens attempted to navigate difficult social circumstances they weren’t prepared to navigate.

Maladaptive coping skills ensued: self-harm, substance use/abuse, disordered eating, overuse of technology, isolation…

There wasn’t enough help readily available to meet their social and emotional needs. Talk of fixing our mental health system to meet these growing needs was just that - talk. They knew it. The tweens and teens know more than people give them credit for…

All this to say, these kids need support this summer. Routines are good across age groups - they provide stability. But these kids need emotional support. They need connection, validation, and comfort.

They need a break. It might be tempting to load them up with all the activities to make sure they’re social and busy and all that other stuff…but ask first. Talk about the balance that works for each kid. Create a plan that includes some routine, some socializing, and some downtime.

Most of all, be there to listen. We can’t force them to talk, but we can show up to listen. When we show up consistently, they get the message that we are there to help.

We can do this. ❤️

Great article on what is positive parenting and helpful tips on how to implement it!

Positive parenting is not “fluffy” parenting or letting your kids get away with their behavior. It’s intentionally catching your kids doing positive things and having healthy boundaries with them.

Here’s what makes ‘positive parenting’ different—and why experts say it's one of the best parenting styles