Helping an anxious child through a PCS. “I’m worried,” whispers the little boy to his mother while he fidgets on a bench behind the playground. My eyes casually roam to where the mother and son closely huddle together. “What are you worried about, honey?” The mom asks in a sweet maternal voice. Waiting for the reply, wondering myself what would make a ten year-old-looking boy so worried and nervous at a playground. I scan the equipment, the park and street for any danger or looming … [Read more...]
Powerful PBS Documentary “The Homefront” Explores Military Families Who Serve Too
While more than 2 million men and women serve in the American military, a new PBS documentary, “The Homefront,” focuses on the additional 3 million husbands, wives and children who remain behind, waiting for their loved ones to return from deployment. They carry with on their lives while a loved one is overseas for months, even more than a year, and sometimes on multiple deployments. Wow. Grab the tissues. Not what I had planned for today! But once I started watching, I couldn't stop. … [Read more...]
Childhood Anxiety
How an insightful tween and psychologist mother connect on the way to a birthday party. My 11-year-old son had a birthday party to go to one Saturday afternoon. As we're heading to the party, he said, "I don't want to go" in a tone I know too well: he's panicking. In my head I thought this makes no sense he is going to his neighbor's party whom he sees EVERY DAY!! But I take a breath and ask "Really, why not?" Then I hear another familiar sound, very fast breathing and in a more panicky tone, … [Read more...]
Another New School
The first day of school is as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. It’s exciting because everything is new - new supplies, new teachers, new classmates, new stories - for some military kids their ENTIRE SCHOOL IS NEW. It’s nerve-wracking because of the many unanswered questions. Will my teacher like me? Will I understand math? Will my BFF be in my class? These are questions every ordinary student will ask. But with every move and new school, military kids have additional questions that come … [Read more...]
Can I Do Anything to Stop Test Anxiety?
Everyone worries about exams, but test anxiety is in another league, causing such fear that it is impossible to do your best. But there are strategies to help! 1) Develop good study habits. 2) Practice under simulated test conditions. (This helps more than you know!) 3) Use relaxation techniques. (BREATH!) 4) Write about your feelings. 5) Be prepared. (Admittedly, this seems like a no-brainer.) 6) Arrive early. (I rely on this for ANY situation in which I feel … [Read more...]