Wildflower Counseling

04/01/2026

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to focus on the essential role we all play in building safe, nurturing environments for Nebraska’s children. In our state alone, thousands of children are impacted by abuse or neglect each year, often driven by factors like parental stress and a lack of support systems. Prevention is about more than intervention—it is about strengthening families before a crisis occurs by providing access to mental health care, resources, and community connections.
At Wildflower Counseling, I am committed to fostering these "Protective Factors"—from building parental resilience to supporting the social and emotional competence of children. This month, I invite you to join the "Pinwheels of Possibility" campaign, using the blue pinwheel as a symbol of the healthy, joyful childhood every child deserves.

How You Can Help in Nebraska:

Wear Blue: Join the statewide effort by wearing blue on Wear Blue Day (Friday, April 10, 2026) to spark conversations about prevention.

Strengthen Families: Small acts of kindness—offering to babysit, listening without distraction, or sharing resources—can significantly reduce parental stress.

Know the Resources: Connect with local collaboratives through Bring Up Nebraska to find family support services in your

Nebraska Contacts
Nebraska Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: 1-800-652-1999 (Available 24/7).

Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660 for immediate support with behavioral or mental health concerns.

BraveBe Child Advocacy Center: Provides specialized mental health and advocacy services for children and non-offending family members.
Together, we can ensure every child in our community grows up safe, supported, and full of possibility.

Prevent Child Abuse America

Prevent Child Abuse America

Child Abuse Prevention Month Recognized at Proclamation Signing

DHHS (.gov)
Child Abuse - DHHS - Nebraska.gov

DHHS (.gov)

The Official Nebraska Government Website, Nebraska.gov is your link to all resources, news, statistics, & online services in the state of Nebraska. We enable citizens and businesses to interact with government, securely and efficiently.

01/21/2026

12/18/2025

Sending love to…
those who don’t feel excited about the holidays.
Those who are tired of being strong.
Those going through big challenges this year.
Those taking things one day at a time.
Those who feel stuck but haven’t stopped trying.
Those spending the holidays alone.

This season can feel heavy in ways that are hard to explain.
Not everyone feels joyful.
Not everyone feels grateful.
And not everyone has the energy to pretend they’re okay.

If you’re moving slowly, that’s still movement.
If you’re resting, that’s still progress.
If you’re just getting through the day, that is more than enough.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You don’t need to feel festive to be worthy of love.
And you don’t need to be strong every moment to be brave.

Let this be a reminder that you are not alone in how you feel.
That many hearts are navigating this season softly, carefully, honestly.
And that simply being here, still trying, still hoping
is already something to be proud of.

Sending love to you,
especially if this spoke to your heart. 🤍🥰

12/18/2025

Kids,
Love, Mom 💌

11/27/2025

📱 Tips to Manage Kids’ Screen Time 📺

1. Set Clear Rules & Routines
•Create daily or weekly limits for TV, tablets, phones, and gaming.
•Decide together when screens are allowed (e.g., after homework, not during meals).

2. Use the “60–30–10 Rule” (for balance)
•60% of free time → active play (indoor/outdoor).
•30% → creative/offline learning (reading, drawing, puzzles).
•10% → screen-based entertainment.

3. Model Healthy Use
•Kids copy parents—reduce your own screen distractions (especially at meals & bedtime).

4. Create Screen-Free Zones
•No devices in bedrooms or at the dining table.
•Keep charging stations outside kids’ rooms.

5. Encourage Co-Viewing & Co-Playing
•Watch shows, play games, or explore apps together.
•This helps you guide content and makes it social, not isolating.

6. Prioritize Quality over Quantity
•Choose age-appropriate, educational, or creative apps/shows.
•Platforms like PBS Kids, Khan Academy Kids, or National Geographic Kids work better than endless scrolling.

7. Balance With Outdoor & Offline Activities
•Sports, art, music, or family walks keep screens from being the only fun option.

8. Use Parental Controls Wisely
•Set app timers, content filters, or “bedtime mode” on devices.
•But don’t rely only on tech—conversation and trust matter too.

9. Plan “Digital Detox” Days
•Have one family day (or evening) a week with no screens: board games, cooking together, or outdoor time.

10. Teach Self-Regulation
•Encourage kids to notice when they feel tired, cranky, or restless after too much screen time.
•Help them learn to pause and take breaks themselves.

11/27/2025

We all have those days — the ones where everything feels like it’s just too much. Where even the smallest thing tips us over the edge...

Children have those days too.

But unlike us, they don’t have the tools, the language, or the freedom to step away, take a break, or regulate on their own.

So instead, they fall apart — and we’re left holding the pieces, wondering if they’re being difficult, or if we’re doing something wrong.

They’re not selfish. They’re not spoiled.
They are human. And they’re learning.

Hold them with grace.
And hold yourself with it too. ❤️