LaramieCares Foundation

10/19/2026

“When we stop numbing and start feeling and learning again, we have to reevaluate everything, especially how to choose loving ourselves over making other people comfortable.”
― Brené Brown

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

When our kids push back hard during a conflict, our first instinct as adults is often to get defensive. We worry that they're trying to control us, or we assume they're just being intentionally defiant.

However, if we look beneath the surface, the neurobiology tells a completely different story.
To a child, a major conflict with their absolute source of safety—you—feels like an existential threat.

They don't yet have the emotional maturity to separate a disagreement from a threat to your love. The bigger and louder their pushback gets, the more terrified they usually are that they're losing your acceptance.

They aren't fighting to win. They're fighting to feel safe again.

When we meet their biggest escalations not with bigger reactions or punishments, but with a calm, steady presence that says, "I'm right here, and I love you even when this is hard," the emotional regulation often takes care of itself.

Connection always comes first. 🌱

10/19/2026

This post is dedicated to my mom, whose husband, my dad, died when she was 35 years old. And, to all those whose hearts are forever changed when their partner dies, no matter how young or old. 💗

10/19/2026

Ma*****na use comes with real risks to health. Learn how it can affect brain health, mental health, driving, pregnancy, and daily life ➡️ samhsa.gov/marijuana

10/19/2026

When our children come to us with a problem, it's natural to want to jump in and fix it.

But sometimes they're not looking for a solution. They just want someone to listen and understand.

Try asking, "Do you want some ideas, or do you just want me to listen?"

It's a simple question that gives children a say in the support they receive and helps them learn to recognise what they need.

More practical parenting guidance in my book Guidance from The Therapist Parent.

www.thetherapistparent.com

10/19/2026

Rest is a life skill, too. ✨

We live in a world that teaches us our worth is tied to our productivity. We praise pushing through pain and never giving up, no matter the cost.

Naturally, we want our kids to be resilient, so we try hard to model perseverance.

However, if we only show them how to run on empty, we’re teaching them how to burn out.
Our children need to see us work hard, but they also desperately need to see us stop. They need to see us declare, "I’m tired, so I’m going to rest my body."

They need to see us realize a plan isn't working and gracefully say, "This isn't serving us anymore, so we are going to change direction."

When we model rest and flexibility, we aren't teaching them to quit. We are teaching them how to listen to their bodies, respect their mental health, and sustain their well-being for the long haul.

How are you modeling the life skill of rest for your family this week?

10/16/2026

“Without understanding how our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors work together, it’s almost impossible to find our way back to ourselves and each other. When we don’t understand how our emotions shape our thoughts and decisions, we become disembodied from our own experiences and disconnected from each other.”
― Brené Brown