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Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Category

The Empty Nest: What Happens When the Chicks Fly

Saturday, November 20th, 2010 by Dr. Ilona L. Tobin

From the second they arrive on the planet, just inches long and utterly dependent, our children occupy a place in our hearts deeper than most any other relationship.

We nurture, guide, feed and protect them for years. The relationship brings us a complex mixture of joy, frustration, sadness, delight, anger, pride and love. Our children occupy our focus like nothing else, as they grow taller and more independent with every year. And then they go away.

Of course, we knew that from the beginning. And that’s been the goal all along.
But that doesn’t make an empty nest any easier when it finally comes.
Fortunately, an empty nest is also the beginning of another era for parents, one that can be equally fulfilling.
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Ilona Tobin has been a psychologist and a marriage and family therapist for more than 25 years in Birmingham, Michigan. For more information, please visit her listing on the Therapist Directory.

Postpartum depression and the couple

Monday, June 8th, 2009 by Ilyene Barsky, LCSW

The arrival of a baby is a powerful event that brings permanent changes to the life of the couple. Parenthood can affect the perception of one’s self, one’s partner, other relationships, and the world in general. The awareness of being totally responsible for the life of a helpless infant is an awesome, and often frightening, realization. Whether or not this is the couple’s first baby, planned or unplanned, its arrival is always a time of transition and possible crisis.
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Ilyene Barsky is a licensed clinical social worker in Coral Springs, Florida. Learn more about Ilyene on her professional listing.

Understanding Adolescents

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 by Lisa Baron, LCSW

Adolescence is a time of change. Of primary importance to adolescents is their developing independence and autonomy, being heard, their friends, and their developing interests. For example, my neighbor’s fourteen year-old son is a drummer. She reports how there are times she feels he lives and breathes for his drums, and how when he is playing, nothing else matters. He has his moments of being self involved, where it is as if the rest of the world doesn’t exist. However, when a social opportunity is offered to him, he will compromise what he is doing as that social world is of utmost importance to him.

She also describes how in the midst of this burgeoning independence, there comes moodiness and volatility. One moment he appears to be calm, and settled and peaceful. He is happy to be part of the family. Another moment, he cannot tolerate the sight of his sibling or parents, and wants to get as far away as possible. It’s as if he fears he will be engulfed by these beings that are in a sense “cramping his style.” There are times he describes that he doesn’t know what he feels. Her descriptions sound like he may experience his inner moods like Chicago weather; volatile and forever shifting from sun to wind to snow, and on from there.

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Lisa Baron, LCSW is a therapist in private practice in Northbrook, Illinois. Lisa sees adults, adolescents and children in her practice. Lisa is in the process of earning her Doctorate in Clinical Social Work from the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago, Illinois. Lisa is also the proud parent of three spirited teenagers. For more information, please visit his listing on the Therapist Directory.

Advice for surviving your teen’s transition from High School to College

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 by Judy Callans, LCSW

For many teens ending a four-year high school career and entering college is an exciting time.  They tend to view this as an ending of their youth and the beginning of their adult lives.  It is a long awaited freedom from the rules and restrictions set by parents and teachers.   Many young adults welcome and thrive with this new sense of control over their own lives.  However, it is worthwhile for both the parent and the student to keep in mind that this autonomy brings responsibility, and responsibility often leads to stress.

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Judy Callans is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice in Northfield, Illinois. She is a founding member of Psychology.com. Judy can be reached for consultation in her office or online. See http://www.psychology.com/therapist/judycallans for more information.