Family Matters

It can be very difficult to know how to stand in the gap and care for a friend who is grieving the loss of a loved one. We often don’t know how to treat people who are grieving or in emotional pain, and so we shy away from the responsibility. If you want to be the kind of person who offers the right kind of sympathy and gives a friend in need the space to grieve well.

Did you know that most children find just as much, or even more, joy in the little things as they do in life's big events? So if you’re aiming to cultivate family togetherness with your kids, activities like eating a special breakfast, playing games, or singing silly songs in the car could turn out to be some of the most memorable highlights of your kids' childhood years.

It's commonly believed that to be an alcoholic you have to drink excessively and consume alcohol almost every day. But this isn't necessarily true. In fact, it's possible to be an alcoholic without even knowing it. We’ll discuss what we mean on the next Family Matters.

If you know of someone close to you who is depressed you are going to want to listen in to the next Family Matters where we’ll be discussing the risk factors and warning signs of depression and suicide.

Dealing with the interesting antics of a toddler is a full time job, and that’s not to mention a strong-willed toddler who seems to defy every law. Most parents face embarrassing or just plain difficult moments with their little ones as they learn about the world around them and how to navigate the social aspect of life. One area that comes up time and time again is the child who bites as a means of exhibiting power or control. No parent enjoys facing the unfortunate event of their child biting another unsuspecting buddy, but this is inevitable if the behavior is not dealt with swiftly.

If you’ve never heard of Sensory Processing Disorder, but you wonder about the abnormal behavior of a child in your care, then listen close. SPD can be defined as a practical inability to use the information received through the senses so as to function smoothly and normally in everyday life and is often caused by early childhood trauma.

Is your family one of those that loves to joke and laugh a lot? Do you find yourselves making fun of other family members to entertain everyone? Poking fun at others for a laugh can nurture your family bond. However, if dealt with in the wrong way, teasing one another can lead to serious insecurities among family members.

Teen suicide is on the rise, as youngsters fall prey to negative thinking and find themselves in a vicious cycle of depression and feelings of hopelessness. On the next Family Matters we’ll talk about how you can come alongside a grieving friend who has lost a loved one to suicide.

Becoming a parent for the first time might cause you to feel a little anxious, or maybe even scared to the bone. But the unknown of your next adventure with your offspring shouldn’t have to cause you sleepless nights, wracking your brain as to how you’re going to manage the extra responsibility.

Maintaining healthy relationships with your adult children and their new spouses can be tricky. On the next Family Matters, we’ll give guidance to a couple who have become estranged from their son and daughter-in-law and are unsure how to proceed with making amends to the rift in the relationship.