Tag Archives: harvesting hope

The 10 Commandments of Healthy Parenting, Part I

I am the mother of 3 amazing children – 2 daughters ages 2 and 9 and a 6-year-old son.  Parenting is simultaneously the most wonderful and challenging experience of my adult life.  You might think I would have it altogether – I mean I am a board certified child psychiatrist, right? Well, these 3 have given me a run for my money and manage to do it every single day. While I know all about the science behind normal childhood development and strategies to manage temper outbursts, applying the knowledge and skills firsthand with my own children is brutal, especially […]

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The ABCs of Self-Esteem

I have 3 wonderfully exuberant children — a 6-year-old son and 2 and 9-year-old daughters. Much like their fabulous mother, they each possess a strong sense of identity and self-worth. Most of the time, they tackle life and the challenges that life brings with enthusiasm, courage, boldness,  and an unwavering belief in their unique ability to accomplish whatever task is at hand. But sometimes they falter. They become doubtful of their intelligence, talent, and mental and physical fortitude.  In these moments, their momentum is stalled; interrupted; or, worse, irrevocably destroyed. I struggle to comfort them in these moments. I seek the […]

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Faith Over Fear

Deafening. Paralyzing. Incapacitating. The roar of fear is merciless. My heart pounds, my stomach churns, and my mind races. My thoughts a barrage of endless questions that interrupt my momentum: Can I even do this?  Am I smart enough?  Do they want to hear what I have to say?  Even though I struggle with doubt almost daily, I refuse to relinquish my dream to fear. I won’t let anxiety grip my heart or invalidate my core beliefs about who I am as a wife, mother, physician, and Christian. To paraphrase a beautiful statement made by Nelson Mandela, I wish for my […]

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