8 Things Boys Need to Hear Their Fathers Say

Relationships are never easy, especially relationships with family.

For the Norman Rockwell family, the holidays are a quiet time of peace, love and togetherness. However, several weeks of school-free kids, cooped up in cold weather along with visiting relatives and in-laws never seem to paint the same pretty picture!This is not to say that each family has exactly the same dynamic at holiday times, but rather, often we become paralyzed by our own expectations of the ‘ideal’ family get-together.That’s why I’m never surprised that as the season approaches, apprehensive attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) families ask how they’ll ever “get through it”.

December 22, 2022Older adults with a genetic risk for ADHD may be more susceptible to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).1 These results, published recently in Molecular Psychiatry, shed light on ADHD-related vulnerability to cognitive impairments as people age.The ADHD polygenic risk score (ADHD-PRS) “represents the combined genetic liability for the disorder” and “is highly associated with ADHD diagnosis and related traits in independent clinical and population samples.” Researchers found that a higher ADHD-PRS was associated with greater decline of cognitive performance and memory impairment over time, and persistent executive function deficits compared to participant baselines. Study participants included adults aged 55 to 90 without a clinical diagnosis for ADHD or cognitive impairments.The Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC) detects early signs of decline in cognitive function and was adapted to the current study.

Supporting your child with a chronic tic disorder, including Tourette’s disorder, largely involves reducing the shame, anxiety, and other stressors that aggravate and reinforce tics. Helping others – like teachers, classmates, and family members – understand tics is also important to creating a helpful, supportive environment for your child.Along with evidence-based treatments for tic disorders, like behavior therapy and medication, follow these strategies to uplift your child in school and at home.Even if it’s a “good” or “bad” reaction, drawing attention to tics in any way will reinforce and possibly aggravate them. Strive to create a tic-neutral environment as much as possible.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends treating ADHD in children and adolescents with FDA-approved medications, plus parent training in behavior modification and behavioral classroom interventions. Likewise, research confirms that “stimulant medications are most effective, and combined medication and psychosocial treatment is the most beneficial treatment option for most adult patients with ADHD.” Still, many individuals seek to augment their ADHD treatment plans with natural therapies ranging from nutrition and vitamins and herbs and fish oil.“Parents and adults see me either because the ADHD medication isn’t doing the job, or they want more improvement and can’t increase the dosage without increasing side effects,” says Richard Brown, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and co-author of the recent book How to Use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Health Care.Here are 10 of the most popular natural ADHD remedies — including foods, ADHD supplements, and herbs — and research findings for each suggesting whether adding them to your treatment plan might unlock better focus, attention, and motivation.Keep in mind that all ADHD treatment decisions should be made in consultation and coordination with a licensed medical provider.Poor nutrition can cause a child or adult with ADHD to become distracted, impulsive, and restless.

It appears JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript and refresh the page in order to complete this form. You may opt out at any time.

Whether we wish to admit it or not, our words have power, especially the words we choose to use with our children. While the following might not seem like a big deal to you-please bear in mind that children are still growing, developing, and learning.While most parents have the best intentions, none of us are perfect. Many of the things we say to our kids were learned through our own experiences with our parents.

We have the power as parents to either raise our kids to be resilient, or to raise them to have a fixed mindset. Resiliency is the best way to go, if you want your child to be happy and successful in life.The thing is, while we may want to swoop in and save our kids from anything that will cause them discomfort or disappointment, at the end of the day we cannot. What we can do is raise them to be resilient in the face of life’s challenges.

“In a world that treats a forty-one-year-old single woman like a teenager who didn’t get asked to prom, I think it’s extremely important to recognize the unique wisdom of a solitary life—a wisdom that develops slowly over many years, that is fundamentally different from that of, say, the person who was between boyfriends for a year when she was twenty-six.” ~Sara Eckel

How much do I need for retirement? Time to get your head out of the sand and do some easy number crunching to find out where you are and where you need to be. Remember this: anticipation is the ultimate power. Losers react; leaders anticipate.Failing to and just hoping Social Security will carry you through retirement is a recipe for disaster.

As mothers, we have so much influence over our daughters, likely much more than we may even realize. None of us are perfect and there will be times in which we say the wrong thing, however, you may be saying the wrong thing without even realizing it.What I mean is, if you are empowerment coaching your daughter in one breath, and in the next, you are tearing yourself apart, you are going to end up in trouble. Even without meaning to, our daughters are sponging up every comment we make towards ourselves and others.

We as parents have so much influence over our kids and their well-being. Typically, when we think of how we influence our kids, we tend to think big, but the thing is- it’s the simple things that make the biggest difference.Think about it: what behaviors of your parents made or broke you growing up? I am going to bet that it was in the small repeated behaviors or the habitual lack of certain behaviors. For example, my mom always made family meals a big deal.

When it comes to values that we should instill in our children, independence and responsibility tend to be at the top of the list. However, it can be hard to strike the balance between tending to our babies and fostering independence.Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to encourage our little ones to grow into strong-minded and independent adults. “Independent thinking children develop higher levels of confidence and have increased self-esteem,” says Carole Kramer Arsenault, a licensed family therapist who is the founder and CEO of Boston Baby Nurse.

TRIGGER WARNING: This post references sexual abuse and may be triggered to some people.

The bond shared between father and daughter is a uniquely special bond. Despite our society’s desire to pretend like gender differences do not exist, fathers must approach their parenting duties with their daughters differently than they would with their sons.Throughout the journey of fatherhood, more specifically being a father of a daughter, the father will be faced with harsh truths that can be difficult to face. While you may be thinking that I am insinuating that daughters are more difficult, it’s less of that and more so that these obstacles are typically rooted in the inherent differences between father and daughter.Most fathers, unless they were raised around younger sisters, are going to struggle with how to approach being the father of a daughter.

When our children don’t listen, our first instinct is to label them as ‘bad’ or ‘stubborn.’ However, the vast majority of the time, if your kid isn’t listening to you regularly, chances are, you are the problem.Now, that might offend a few of you, and while I am sorry, it has to be said. When you are trying to get your child to listen to you and to do as you say, there are a few things you need to bear in mind.

Q: “My college freshman just told us that he will likely fail several courses. He admitted that he neglected to register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) to get accommodations for his ADHD and learning disabilities.