Between after-school activities, homework, and work commitments, finding time for a family dinner can feel impossible. Yet sharing a meal together—even just a few times a week—offers lasting rewards. Research shows that kids who regularly eat with their families enjoy…
The holidays can be a sensory explosion—and not just for children. I’m talking about parents, too. As soon as the holiday season kicks off, your to-do list goes from 1 million to 10 million items, with shorter deadlines and more…
October is ADHD Awareness Month—a time to celebrate brain differences, not judge them. When you understand how the ADHD brain functions and processes information, you are more likely to parent productively, as opposed to feeling frustrated because nothing is working.…
When my children were little, discussions about what costumes to wear for Halloween began in September. They loved dressing up, attending Halloween parties at school, trick-or-treating with friends, and then sorting (and eating) the candy they collected. While my children…
When my son was in a tween, he asked if he could take golf lessons. I signed him up for introductory lessons with a golf pro. He enjoyed it so much I sent to a summer golf camp for a…
The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How
It's back-to-school season, and for some families, it involves more than just buying new backpacks, folders, and pencils. For neurodivergent families, this is a time to focus on developing executive function skills. If you want your morning routine to be…
One of the toughest parts of parenting is watching your child struggle. Whether they're upset about a grade, being left out of a party, or not making the starting lineup of a sport, it's hard to ignore the immediate impulse…
Q: How do I as a parent deal with other kids coming over for a play date with cellphones? We are pretty strict with no iPads, video games, or phones for our kids (ages 8 and 10), but this is…
July is Disability Pride Month, which celebrates the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. It’s also a time to reframe the negative ways children with different abilities are often portrayed. While they do require extra support and assistance, the…
When my children were younger, I envied the relationship they had with my husband. I felt like their dad was the fun parent and I was the one they were forced to have. He was a delicious piece of cake,…
Q: My 9-year-old daughter begged me for a bunny for her birthday in February, and I got her one with the agreement that she would be in charge of feeding it and cleaning its cage. It’s been a few months…
Most of us know Mother’s Day is in May, but it’s also Mental Health Awareness month. Raising neurodivergent children requires a unique set of parenting tools, but it involves something often overlooked: The mental health of caregivers. Parents of neurodivergent…
Looking for a great way to spend time with your kids that’s fun, affordable, and gets them off their screens? Gardening is an ideal activity. Whether you plant one in your yard, on your deck, or on a kitchen windowsill,…
As parents, we take various measures to keep our children safe. Some safety precautions, like sunscreen and insect repellant, are apparent in the warm-weather months. But we must also consider the dangers associated with pools—and vacations that revolve around water.…
Mindy Vergakis is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, working with children, adolescents, and families. Formerly a counselor at Charlotte Latin, she specializes in ADHD, anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and behavior challenges and offers individual and family counseling, as…
March brings awareness to developmental disabilities like autism, ADHD, and Down syndrome, which are part of the rich spectrum of human experience. Every child's developmental journey is unique and should be supported with empathy and tailored strategies. I want to…
Parents may think they know what it’s like to be in elementary, middle, or high school since they’ve been through it already. But is childhood really the same as it was when we were young? The answer is yes—and no.…
I don't often have the privilege of interviewing others for my articles; I usually find myself in the role of the expert being interviewed. However, when I sought insights into Generation Alpha, I discovered a valuable opportunity for connection with…
Q: Should you get your child evaluated for a disorder if you suspect they are a high functioning version of it, or do you just treat your child with extra care and love without giving them a label? A: Knowledge…
If you’re a parent of girls, you may have heard about two new organizations turning heads: Girlhood Charlotte and Growing Our Girls. Though not officially affiliated, their founders share a vision—to create new ways for moms and their daughters to…
If you’re like me, you may find it challenging to rest and recharge your batteries. I’m the type of person who goes until I can't anymore. Recharging is active work; I can only do it by putting effort in. However,…
An Interview with Kim and Penn Holderness
Q: My kids are having the constant “it’s not fair!” battle and it’s exhausting. Responding with “life’s not fair” isn’t working. What’s an effective way to shut this down? A: The F-word is not allowed in our household. No one…
