HaltonParents

Reflections on innocence

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Paula D'Orazio

My heart sank deep in my chest and my eyes immediately filled with tears just now as I learned from a radio report that the remains of Tim Bosma had been found in a rural area in southwestern Ontario.

Details will emerge. Questions will likely be at least partially answered in time, but the fact remains…a family has been shattered. A little girl just lost her dad. A young mother lost her partner. A family, a community – in shock and mourning.

My daughter caught some of the details of this sad case the other night by accident while the news was on TV at home. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Teen, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween, Parenting Your Teen, Teens | Tagged Bosma, community, family, grieving, heavy heart, injury prevention, innocence, loving community, Mental Health, Physical Health, school, stranger, stranger safety, talk to strangers, thoughts and feelings, Tim, Tim Bosma | 6 Comments

My son stresses over getting A’s at school…Should I be worried?

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Cynthia Lindsay RN

As I read last week’s blog Education week and Mental Health week: I see the connection, I feel Paula’s struggles with her young daughter and the stress she has about school.

This reminds me of a documentary I recently watched with a group of about 25 other parents. It was called Race to Nowhere. Here’s the trailer:

Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween | Tagged anxiety, depression, grades, homework, kids, Mental Health, school, school health, self-esteem, straight As, stress, teens, transition | 8 Comments

Mother’s Day reflections

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Andrea Scott RN

I think Mother’s Day means something different for every single one of us. What does it mean for you? Continue reading →

Posted in Before Pregnancy, Parenting, Pregnancy | Tagged infertility, loss, mothers day | 3 Comments

Education Week and Mental Health Week: I see the connection

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Paula D'Orazio

“We have to do this homework tonight – we are getting ready for EQAO testing! Dad! DAD! This is SERIOUS!!”, bellowed my 8-year old daughter, who I will admit has a bit of a nervous and timid temperament; not exactly quick to embrace new challenges, as she charged into the kitchen tearing her backpack open.

As she sat and worked away with Daddy, I heard things like, “I hate math”, “I’m never gonna be good at this” and “I’m not smart at math”. Funny – never heard such things during usual homework sessions. I thought EQAO was supposed to measure what kids actually know. More concerning to me was the anxiety she was showing in anticipation of the test – noticeably agitated about it. Continue reading →

Posted in Children & Tweens, Emotional Well-Being & Mental Health for Your Child/Tween, Parenting, Parenting Your Child/Tween | Tagged EQAO, grade 3, homework, Mental Health, parenting support, school, school health, school stress, stress, testing | 2 Comments

Sleep is everything: Making my own sleep a priority

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Andrea Scott RN

Tired mom with young baby

To me, sleep is everything. If I’m caught up on my sleep, I’m a better mommy: I’m more patient; I’m happier; and I can better handle the days my daughter is extra fussy. Continue reading →