While it is becoming more commonplace for gay and lesbian individuals to raise children, finding community support isn’t so easy. Here is one couple’s story. Gina Kaysen Fernandes: Vicky* remembers the moment she first held her adopted baby in her arms. “He was destined for us. There was never a doubt in my mind that he wasn’t mine,” says Vicky, who, along with her partner, Beth*, is raising a 6-year-old boy they...

When kids go off to college, some parents experience empty nest syndrome. Both mothers and fathers can experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, and grief when their kids leave the house. Many parents find they have a loss of identity as well. The helicopter or hovering parents will find themselves at a loss with no child to manage at home. When kids go off to college, it will open up downtime in a whole new way. This may also bring up feelings...

Whitney brought her teenage daughter, Bobbi Kristina, to her 30-day rehab stay so she could fully explain to her what had gone wrong in her mother’s life. She believes this was an invaluable experience for her and her daughter. While on Oprah, Whitney went on to say that she couldn’t lie to her daughter, and wanted her to know that her horrible drug addiction problems were associated with the lifestyle they were keeping. I also...

Do you scream at your kids to “stop fighting and just get along”? You may want to think again — you could be doing more harm than good. Our expert tells you why. “Just love each other!” is what my mom used to say, begging with tears in her eyes to her three little girls while they were fighting. I realize that she was only doing her best at the time. You would think this is not such a bad thing to want...

It was the sucker punch heard around the world. University of Oregon football player LeGarrette Blount hit Boise State player Byron Hout last week after their game. With such examples in the news, how do we teach our kids to be better sports than Blount was? Teaching our children good sportsmanship is key to their emotional connections with peers. Social and emotional skills are an essential part of navigating school, from preschool and beyond....

Hope and courage! These are the two words that come to my mind while watching the statement made by Tina Dugard, Jaycee’s aunt, regarding the reunification and reconnection of Jaycee and her mom, Terry Probyn. I am extremely hopeful for Jaycee and her daughters. As a clinical psychologist, it was clear to me that the family is doing everything right in regards to beginning the healing process for Jaycee and her daughters. This is a time...