Open Book Parenting

Open Book Parenting Solutions for connected parents of anxious kids and teens

Do most children grow out of their anxiety symptoms? Yes and no. Children without clinical levels of anxiety go through ...
09/06/2025

Do most children grow out of their anxiety symptoms? Yes and no. Children without clinical levels of anxiety go through periods of greater worry without become anxious. (Think of the child who is afraid of monsters under their bed.) But children with brains prone to anxiety will get stuck in those developmental times of worry, which is how you get a 10-year old who still can't sleep alone or a middle schooler who gets panic attacks at school and needs a parent to come get them. I tell parents this -- if you are tired of accommodating or if your child is missing out, then it's time to get help. If you're not sure about your own child's situation, reach out to me. I'm happy to support you in figuring out next steps. ❤️

09/05/2025

As the school year begins, remember that anxious minds may need a little extra support. Let’s teach our children not just to overcome anxiety but to live fully with it. Set goals, celebrate small triumphs, and weather setbacks together. "

09/05/2025

Life throws curveballs. Balancing work and supporting our anxious kids can be tough. It’s okay to pause and breathe. Let's give ourselves grace as we navigate these challenges. "

09/05/2025

It’s okay not to have all the answers. When your child shows signs of anxiety, ask: "Is this part of their process?" Sometimes, just riding it out together is the best support. Remember, you are learning to roll with uncertainty.

We carry our earliest selves with us always, which means we have the opportunity to take good care of the parts of ourse...
09/05/2025

We carry our earliest selves with us always, which means we have the opportunity to take good care of the parts of ourselves that have been wounded.
No, we can't go back in time and address those needs when they happen, but we can acknowledge them and care for them now.
We never lose the chance to grow.

Ready for a fundraiser that can make a real difference for the kids and families who are part of your school community? ...
09/04/2025

Ready for a fundraiser that can make a real difference for the kids and families who are part of your school community? You a bring any of my child and teen anxiety courses to your school and 50% of proceeds will go directly back to your program. Want more information about how it works? Send a message my way or comment here and I'll get right back to you!








Lots of times I get kids (and adults) in my office who report they "tried" mindfulness and it doesn't work. As one child...
09/02/2025

Lots of times I get kids (and adults) in my office who report they "tried" mindfulness and it doesn't work. As one child said to me, "Breathe breathe breathe. Everyone always tells me to breathe." Then they demonstrated taking a quick huffy breath. "It doesn't work!" I had to laugh because I hear some version of that a lot. Mindfulness and learning to calm is way more than just learning to take a deep breath! The deep breathing is a FIRST step but it's far from the last! Learning to relax -- ironically -- takes effort and most of us aren't good at it at first, especially when our nervous system is super revved up. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your learning. Help your child be patient with THEIR learning (learning patience is part of it, too!). Need help with that? We've got answers in the Child Anxiety Support program!

A shy child eventually warms up. They may be distressed but they don't *stay* distressed. But when "shyness" interferes ...
08/31/2025

A shy child eventually warms up. They may be distressed but they don't *stay* distressed. But when "shyness" interferes with academic or social functioning (if the child or teen is avoiding things they're likely to enjoy, doing poorly in school or other activities because of fears of participating), or is having significant somatic complaints like headaches, stomachaches or "shaky legs" then that sounds like anxiety. Have questions? Ask away via comments or by reaching out to me directly.

Oh anxiety, you seductive liar, you! Worrying about things does not make you more responsible or safer but it can feel t...
08/30/2025

Oh anxiety, you seductive liar, you! Worrying about things does not make you more responsible or safer but it can feel that way. Letting it go -- letting it take care of itself -- can feel like taking your eyes off the road while you're driving. But that's the kind of cognitive distortion that keeps us trapped. We need to learn how to tell our anxious brains, "Ok, enough. I'm done fretting about this and I am MOVING ON" and that takes consistent practice.

In some families children's boundaries aren't respected and so those children grow into adults who don't know how to hav...
08/29/2025

In some families children's boundaries aren't respected and so those children grow into adults who don't know how to have boundaries.
We may not know how to stop eating when we're full or how to recognize when we are hungry. We may not know how to feel our needs or be able to articulate them.
We might be passive aggressive, trying to let people know what we want without actually telling them and then being upset when they don't understand.
We might answer the phone when we want to send it to voicemail, attend the event when we want to stay home, refuse the second piece of pie we're craving. OR We might insert ourselves into situations where we don't belong.
We might get involved in arguments that don't have anything to do with us.We might try to solve relationship conflicts between other people.
We might give advice that no one asked for (or wants).
BUT WE CAN GET BETTER.
Isn't life wonderful? It gives us so many opportunities to grow and change! Ok, I know, I know. Growth and change is exhausting. Sometimes it sounds nice to stay stuck. But life is better when we learn!

If you find that the anxious kids in your school are missing out, consider bringing my program to your PTA, PTO or paren...
08/28/2025

If you find that the anxious kids in your school are missing out, consider bringing my program to your PTA, PTO or parent program. It's a great fundraising option -- 50% of the proceeds from parents enrolling in my courses will go right back to the school -- and it can make a real difference for those families who are struggling.








For anti-anxiety coping we're aiming for NEUTRAL thinking. If your child is worried about a test and saying, "Oh my gosh...
08/26/2025

For anti-anxiety coping we're aiming for NEUTRAL thinking. If your child is worried about a test and saying, "Oh my gosh, I'm going to flunk, I'm so stupid, I'm an idiot" we don't have to say, "No! You're a genius! You're going to ace it! You'll get all the scholarships and win all the prizes!" We just need to help them say, "I will be able to pass the test." If your child is saying, "I can't go to that party because everyone will hate me and I'll make a fool of myself." We just need to help them say, "I can go to that party and it'll be fine. I'm sure I'll have a decent time." Neutral is a much easier goal than positive so it's ok to aim a little lower to combat anxiety.

Address

Columbus, OH

Telephone

+16143018030

Website

http://tiktok.com/@dawnfriedmanmsed

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Open Book Parenting posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram