Open Book Parenting

01/10/2026

Once parents understand the patterns they may be inspired to start interrupting them all at once but this usually backfires! Kids get overwhelmed and their behavior amps up, parents get overwhelmed and start thinking that nothing is going to work. But actually it's typical for anxious kids to lean on less healthy behaviors while they're building skills and focusing on one area at a time gives them the bandwidth (and you the space) to start figuring out how this is all going to work. Growth is a journey! It takes time!

01/10/2026

Parenting is a relationship (oh look at that beautiful perfect baby!) and also a job (oh that beautiful perfect baby just had a massive blow out all over the new car seat). 🤢 Some of us love to parent toddlers (seriously, some of us do) and some of us are counting the days until the first day of kindergarten. It's ok. Being a good parent doesn't mean you're always going to love parenting!

01/09/2026

Isn't that interesting? Mom and Grandma meant to show concern and caring and may have thought Grandfather (whose name was McFeely, by the way!) was being too lax. But how young Fred experienced it was trust. "I trust you," he heard from his grandfather. "I trust you to do it and to be able to manage whatever happens next."
When we step in too quickly or hold them up too much we may think we're saying "I'm here for you" but what we might actually be saying is, "You can't do it without me."
Tough work, this parenting gig. ❤️

01/08/2026

Sometimes fears feel real because they ARE real. I mean, they not only FEEL scary but they are actually dangerous. Yes, sometimes anxiety makes sense! In the world we're living in right this very minute, things feel pretty dang terrifying because frankly, they ARE terrifying. And yet we have to find a way to live anyway. In my shift from The Child Anxiety FAQ to the new version of my podcast, TELL ME IT WILL BE OK, I'm talking more about being anxious in an anxious world. How do we do it? How do we keep moving forward? And how do we do it without getting STUCK in our understandable but ultimately unhelpful anxious thinking? Here's an excerpt from my upcoming podcast episode, which will be arriving on January 15th wherever you get your favorite podcasts. (and also on YouTube!)

01/08/2026

Bring any of my programs to your school and not only will you raise funds for your program (50% of all proceeds will go back to your organization) but you'll also make a real difference for the kids and parents in your care. Teachers and administrators can attend for free so that you can cement the positive change throughout your school community! Want to learn more? Message me or comment here and I'll get right back to you!

01/07/2026

01/06/2026

This is a hard, hard truth about parenting. Your child's suffering is NOT a sign that you're getting it wrong; it's a sign that life is hard for all of us. You can come alongside your child during those tough times and be there with them as they power through. Learning that they can get through hard times and that they don't have to do it alone is oh so valuable (but oh is it hard for us to let it happen)!

01/04/2026

When you are kind to yourself after failure, when you make amends and move on, when you go back to the drawing board you are showing them how to rise above our inevitable mistakes. They need to see us try things that we're bad at. They need to see us be a bit foolish and have to fix things after. They need to see us fall down and get back up. Because they need that example. So take risks! (But wear your helmet and kneepads!)

01/02/2026

I think one of the most powerful things I can do as a therapist and as a parent is to be with someone who is struggling without sending them the sense that I am overwhelmed by the demands of their big feelings. And let me tell you, it isn't always easy. When a person is in front of me and they're hurting I desperately want to do something to ease their suffering but sometimes those efforts unintentionally send the message, "Your feelings are too much for me." Being able to be present and bear witness to their struggle gives them space to find their own way to healing. And that is BIG healing.