Fitting in Family Fitness at the Holidays

And invite full-family participation. “Almost everyone can do something, even if it is just a push-up against the wall, if someone shows them how and keeps saying, ‘Wow, good job, Grandma,’” she said. Importantly, you will not miss out on most health or fitness benefits by lowering your exercise targets to a few minutes per … Read more

Practicing Gratitude, for a Change

I walked back into the room and lounged on the sofa, nursing my coffee gloomily. “It’s only a day,” my aunt reminded me. But what was Thanksgiving without the tumble and chaos of preparing a meal for a hodgepodge of people you loved? Sometimes the gratitude I felt once we were all gathered over dinner … Read more

Some L.G.B.T. Parents Reject the Names ‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy’

Both Dr. Goldberg and Ms. Kahn surmise that the couples who are using new terminologies are willing to do so because of the hard-won rights L.G.B.T. people have secured, particularly the right to marry. “Now there’s more willingness to push some of those boundaries,” Dr. Goldberg said, “because of greater legal recognition and acceptance.” Also, … Read more

Which Is Better, Rewards or Punishments? Neither

“I feel a sense of dread as bedtime rolls around. Here we go again.” A dad said this in our family therapy office one day, describing his son’s pre-bed antics. The child would go wild as bedtime approached, stubbornly ignoring his parents’ directions and melting down at the mention of pajamas. The parents felt frustrated … Read more

The Maternal Grandparent Advantage

Thus, you hear sorrowful tales like this one of a 72-year-old grandmother whose name I am not using to prevent further discord. She moved to Southern California last year to help her son and his wife with their new baby, her first grandchild. “I expected I’d be hands-on, babysitting in the evenings,” she told me. … Read more

Is Snooping on Teenagers Ever O.K.?

So, if parents suspect that their teenager might be in trouble, what should they do? The prevailing wisdom suggests a straightforward solution: Start by asking. Though teenagers are usually tight-lipped about topics they deem personal, such as how they spend their free time or allowance, research on parent-adolescent communication shows that teenagers believe their parents … Read more

Is Snooping on Teenagers Ever O.K.?

So, if parents suspect that their teenager might be in trouble, what should they do? The prevailing wisdom suggests a straightforward solution: Start by asking. Though teenagers are usually tight-lipped about topics they deem personal, such as how they spend their free time or allowance, research on parent-adolescent communication shows that teenagers believe their parents … Read more

Out of Sorts Around the Holidays? It Could Be Family Jet Lag

And the divisive presidential election didn’t help, adding an extra sprinkle of tension to families that include both Trump and Clinton voters. So how is it possible to not only survive the holidays this year with your family, but enjoy them? Dr. Fried emphasized that different strategies like daily mindfulness and meditation techniques may provide … Read more

How to Be Mindful at the Holiday Table

“Holidays often come wrapped in memories and expectations. Mindfulness offers the gift of being present in the moment. Just show up and be interested. At holidays, this means simply being present in the moment with compassion for yourself, and others.” — Nina Smiley, director of mindfulness programming at Mohonk Mountain House. As you sit down … Read more