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Bucket List For Parents

As I may have whined about a time or two on here, my daughter is getting ready to move into her own place. I’m not ready, there are still so many things I want to do, so much that I’m sure I missed, I want to go back and have a do over. Our kids grow up so quickly one day you are elbow deep in diapers and the next they are in kindergarten and before you know they’ve graduated and are getting on with their lives. Well, it may be too late for me to do that but it’s … Continue reading →

Empty Bucket Syndrome: Six Ways to Get Replenished

My mother used to say, “You can’t give from an empty bucket.” I’m not exactly sure that’s true. I understand the principle behind the statement, but I belive that parents have the ability to somehow keep giving even after their “bucket” is woefully dry. It’s amazing how parents–and mothers especially–seem to always find the strength to keep going and giving, putting themselves last. Of course, you’re not going to be able to meet your child’s special needs if you’re physically, mentally, and emotionally bankrupt. So if you’re operating with “empty bucket syndrome,” I hope you’ll reevaluate. It’s time to start … Continue reading →

How to Water Your Plants During a Drought

Water, water. Sometimes it’s not everywhere. Sometimes there is no rain to be found, not for days and weeks. This is scary for farmers and deeply frustrating for gardeners. In a drought, plants die, and if you rely on these plants for food and shade, this can be very difficult. How can you weather drought and plan for future dry times as well? Let some of your plants go dormant. Lawns and moss will go brown. This is fine. Keep your lawn a little longer before the dry season begins so that it will make as much shade and conserve … Continue reading →

Have Fun with Dad

Whether it’s on Father’s Day, next week Tuesday or the following Friday, carving out time to have fun with Dad can make a huge difference in the life of a child. Solidifying the relationship between Dad and daughter or son is vital, especially in this day and age when children are being robbed of their innocence at an extremely young age. This summer take some time to bond with Dad in the great outdoors by partaking in the following fun activities: Build a Terrarium: Get dirty with Dad by collecting materials to feature in a terrarium. Look for small rocks, … Continue reading →

May Madness

Forget about March madness, if you are a parent, the month of May is when crazy comes knocking. In addition to Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, May means graduations, end of the school year field trips, concerts, talent shows and First Holy Communion. If you thought you were pressed for time during the other 11 months of the year, May is typically when moms and dads are really forced to put their multitasking skills to the test. We are a less than 48 hours into this new month and I have already been required to use my fingernail as a … Continue reading →

Go Pond Dipping – More How Tos!

If you have a local pond, help the kids explore it this spring! Yesterday I wrote about the importance of aquatic insects. To find these little creatures, you’ll need some equipment. There are many different kinds of equipment that one can use to collect aquatic insects. All of them are relatively inexpensive. Kitchen sieves can be purchased at the store and used for pond dipping. It’s also possible to buy dip nets that are designed for catching fast-moving insects, like predatory diving beetles. For animals that cling to rocks, the best solution is to buy or find a small container … Continue reading →

Increasing mental health problems in the US?

John Hopkins released some new statistics recently, indicating there has been an increase of about 2 million adults who suffer from mental illness since 1997. These statistics were based on self-reports in 2007, and the specific cause is not indicated. The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health. When you read about statistics like this, do you question them? I don’t doubt at all there is an increase in self-reporting of mental illness, but I question if there is an actual increase versus more awareness. While the report did not indicate a reason for the increase, the … Continue reading →

Reluctance to talk to doctors about depression.

A recent survey in California and published in the Annals of Family Medicine showed nearly half of people with depressive symptoms did not speak to their primary care physician about it. The biggest reason? Worry about being put on anti-depressant medications. The next biggest reason was that people did not think their primary doctor was responsible for their emotional help, with a third reason of worrying that others would find out. Both Reuters and Huffington Post have interesting looks at the research. I found the data interesting because we in America are accused of being a drug nation all of … Continue reading →

Autism Spectrum Disorders and School

I came across an article in the US News & World report health section today that caught my eye. They were discussing a study published in Psychiatric Services last month (August 2011). The research looked at the use of mental health services by adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. They were looking at data from a longitudinal study that covered a 10 year period, and discovered that about half of those who received mental health services received them at school. Obviously school plays an important role in the lives of those with autism spectrum disorders. Normally these students would be … Continue reading →

New CDC Stats on Mental Illness

A summary report discussing how the CDC measures mental illness and the statistics that go with it was released on 9/02/11. This report focused on adults in the US, and the primary diagnosis it looks at is Depression, leaving Anxiety (which may have a higher rate of diagnosis) out of the equation. The actual CDC report can be cumbersome to get through, but they have some interesting data tables including state-by-state data that was eye-opening. A better look at this report was summarized by Dr. John Grohol from PsychCentral. He pointed out the significance in missing anxiety as a primary … Continue reading →