Parenting decision making
Advice Column: Avoiding Rejection During Internship Application Season
Q: My daughter, a high school senior, can leave school midday for an internship. Many of her friends have already found one. She’s stressed but increasingly avoids applying to more places and pushes back on every suggestion I make. How can I help? A: Stress and avoidance often travel together. When friends announce their placements,…
Advice Column: Helping Your Child With Their Fear Of Dogs
Q: We have a five-year-old. Because I’m allergic, we don’t have a dog, although I wish we could. Our daughter seems to be developing a fear of dogs. She cries and clings to me when we’re passing neighborhood dogs. How can I support her so that this doesn’t become a lifelong problem? A: Start by…
Advice Column: Setting boundaries on childcare for your sister
Q: My sister wants me to watch her two kids this August so she can cut her childcare costs. I work from home part-time and everyone assumes I have endless availability. My mom says the cousins would bond so much if I just said “yes”, but my one-on-one time with my daughter is precious. Am…
What Netflix’s The Crash Reveals About the Real Cost of Permissive Parenting
If you’ve watched The Netflix series The Crash, you probably formed an opinion about Mackenzie Shirilla’s parents before the show even ended. Natalie and Steve Shirilla present themselves as fiercely devoted parents who unconditionally believe in their daughter. That devotion is visible and, in its way, genuine. The problem is that unconditional advocacy and effective…
Making Halloween Fun for Every Every Neighbor in the Kentlands and Lakelands
Halloween in the Kentlands and Lakelands is one of the most joyful nights of the year. Families fill the sidewalks, kids proudly show off their costumes, and porches glow with pumpkins and laughter. For many, it’s pure fun. Yet for some, especially neurodiverse children, teens, and adults, the sights, sounds, and surprises can be overwhelming….
Early Brain Damage in Contact Sports: What New Study Reveals About Risk to Young Athletes
In 2018, we wrote an advice column addressing a parent’s concerns about long-term brain damage that can result from contact sports. Now, with new research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Boston University, it’s time to revisit this critical topic. A new study published this month reveals that even young contact-sport athletes show…
Why Limiting Smartphones and AI in Middle School Is Worth the Fight
As parents, we all know how quickly childhood changes, especially during the middle school years. Although learning to navigate a bigger school and multiple teachers grabs our attention, under the surface, quietly, the refinement of social skills, the development of identity, and the management of emotions take center stage for them. New research shows that…
Should Your Child or Young Adult Take a Stimulant Vacation This Summer?
Summer break often brings changes in routines for families. For parents of children, teens, and even young adults on stimulant medications, a common question is whether to take a stimulant vacation. At Kentlands Psychotherapy, we understand your concerns and aim to guide you through this decision. Understanding a Stimulant Vacation A stimulant vacation is a…
Not Fair! Pool Guest Pass Negotiations
Question: We’re organizing a pool party for my daughter’s birthday, and I’m stuck in a family debate over the guest list. I’d prefer a small gathering of five kids, but my daughter wants to use our entire pool punch card to invite more friends. Her siblings feel this is unfair, arguing they won’t get to…
Is My College Freshmen Depressed?
Q: Our oldest is in his first semester of college. In many ways, it appears to be, “So far, so good.” At least academically, that is. But we’re worried. He doesn’t seem to be making friends. When we ask him how things are going, he just talks about classes and band practice, which are “fine.”….
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