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Convo Experts in mental health, relationships, families, and child development.

Traveling somewhere new?Starting a relationship?Taking a leap in your career?Fear is simply information. Connection is t...
07/24/2025

Traveling somewhere new?
Starting a relationship?
Taking a leap in your career?

Fear is simply information. Connection is the force behind our bravest actions.

Share your story in the comments. How has connection inspired your bravery, or that of your kids?

He said he was afraid for the state of the world. He was afraid for his family and friends, and he felt afraid for himse...
07/23/2025

He said he was afraid for the state of the world. He was afraid for his family and friends, and he felt afraid for himself, too. He is bright and sensitive and gets trapped in his worries.

I didn’t tell him not to have those feelings. I told him instead what Jewish people have told children for thousands of years: where there’s darkness, shine your light.

I asked him what he thought a miracle is. He said, it’s a big and shocking magical event. I told him that, yes, sometimes miracles are big. But, miracles are everyday, too. They are small sometimes and you have to be on the lookout for them, even when the darkness is drawing your attention away. And when you can’t find a miracle… be the miracle.

I asked him, what’s your special gift? He told me… loving kindness. I told him, every time you share that gift, the world glows brighter.

Imagine if each of us was an everyday miracle.

Psychologist and Jewish mom, Dr. Carol Gilligan, said it well: “Caring requires paying attention, seeing, listening, re...
07/21/2025

Psychologist and Jewish mom, Dr. Carol Gilligan, said it well:

“Caring requires paying attention, seeing, listening, responding with respect. Its logic is contextual, psychological. Care is a relational ethic, grounded in a premise of interdependence. But it is not selfless.”

In other words, truly caring for others doesn't mean we do it at the expense of ourselves. As parents, if we confuse care with self-erasure, we risk teaching out kids that showing love means we disappear.

Teaching our kids to care happens when we take are of them...but also when they see us taking care of ourselves, too.

“Care is not selfless.”This matters deeply for parents. When we confuse care with self-erasure, we risk teaching our chi...
07/16/2025

“Care is not selfless.”

This matters deeply for parents. When we confuse care with self-erasure, we risk teaching our children that love means disappearing.

But true care isn’t martyrdom—it’s presence. It’s showing up with our full selves, modeling boundaries, voice, and mutual respect.

Our kids learn how to care by watching how we care for them and ourselves.

I asked a child in therapy what he thought a miracle is. He said, it’s a big and shocking magical event. I told him that...
07/09/2025

I asked a child in therapy what he thought a miracle is.

He said, it’s a big and shocking magical event. I told him that, yes, sometimes miracles are big...
..but, miracles are everyday, too.

They are small sometimes and you have to be on the lookout for them, even when the darkness is drawing your attention away. And when you can’t find a miracle…be the miracle.

Imagine if we all lived that way.

What Are Your Favorite Family Rituals?Share them below! ⬇️Rituals are repeated, meaningful moments that create connectio...
07/03/2025

What Are Your Favorite Family Rituals?

Share them below! ⬇️

Rituals are repeated, meaningful moments that create connection and a shared sense of “we.” Whether it’s as simple as Saturday game night or as big as your annual family vacation—rituals help shape strong, lasting bonds.

✨ Pro tip: Involve everyone in the planning and setup so the ritual feels like it belongs to everyone.

Some warning signs to watch for in kids:👉 Persistent negative mood, anger, or sadness — or even emotional flatness👉 Irri...
06/26/2025

Some warning signs to watch for in kids:

👉 Persistent negative mood, anger, or sadness — or even emotional flatness

👉 Irritability (often the most common sign in younger children)

👉 Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed

👉 Sleep difficulties

👉 Changes in appetite — eating much less or much more

👉 Marked overdependence on screens

👉 Ongoing fatigue

👉 Changes in school behavior or performance

👉 New challenges with focus or concentration

👉 Expressions of hopelessness (especially in older kids and teens)

Depression may be diagnosed when these symptoms form a consistent pattern — that is, multiple symptoms, persisting over time, and showing up in more than one setting.

**This post is not intended to diagnose or treat. If you’re concerned about your child, please reach out to a licensed therapist for support and guidance.

Do I have to explain every decision to my kids?Does every “no” need a full explanation?Sometimes… no.“No” can be a full ...
06/19/2025

Do I have to explain every decision to my kids?

Does every “no” need a full explanation?

Sometimes… no.

“No” can be a full sentence—especially when you’ve already set clear, consistent, and kind expectations.

But often, our “yes's” and “no's” come in response to “sometimes” questions:

“Can I stay up late?” might get a "yes" today and a "no" tomorrow.

In those moments, reinforce your answer with the "why" behind it—the values that guide your family.

🛌 “Can I stay up late?”
No, not tonight—it’s a school night, and we always say a well-rested brain is important for learning.

🎉 “Can I stay up late?”
Yes, tonight, because your cousins are in town, and making memories is worth a little flexibility.

Let your kids see and hear how we make values-based decisions in real life. 💡

“The early twentieth-century Hebrew essayist Ahad Ha’am wasn’t exaggerating when he said, ‘More than the Jewish People h...
06/18/2025

“The early twentieth-century Hebrew essayist Ahad Ha’am wasn’t exaggerating when he said, ‘More than the Jewish People have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.’”

As Erica Brown notes, “Communities do not create rituals; it’s more that rituals create communities.” (See the article: How Shabbat Brings People Together, Time Magazine)

My own research shows the power of family rituals to heal and strengthen—disrupting cycles of trauma and supporting mental health across generations.

Rituals can be:

🕊️ Daily – A unique way you say goodbye each morning

🍽️ Weekly – Shabbat or Sunday night dinner

🎉 Yearly – Holiday celebrations or a meaningful annual trip

Whatever the rhythm, infuse your rituals with a sense of “we.”

We don't just raise families--we raise the future. Every story we tell, every moment we slow down to connect, every time...
06/12/2025

We don't just raise families--we raise the future. Every story we tell, every moment we slow down to connect, every time we model curiosity or compassion...we are not fixating on behavior, we are instead shaping the moral and imaginative future of the world.

Did you know siblings can shape each other’s development as much as parents do? Fostering strong sibling bonds doesn't m...
06/06/2025

Did you know siblings can shape each other’s development as much as parents do?

Fostering strong sibling bonds doesn't mean avoiding conflict—it means guiding kids through it with empathy, respect, and problem-solving skills.

✨ Talk about the value of sibling connection

🤝 Normalize and navigate conflict

🎲 Create space for shared fun and teamwork

These relationships are lifelong—help them grow strong.

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