Child Therapy Boston

Wise Words Wednesday: Sometimes We Need Food First, Too

We spend a lot of time reminding our kids to eat, drink water, get some sleep, and take a break…

But our kids also benefit from seeing us do those things for ourselves.

Maybe you've had a long day and you're tired, hungry, overstimulated, and suddenly everything feels WAY more annoying than it should. 😂

Instead of just pushing through, let your kids hear you recognize what you need.

💬 Things we can say out loud:

“I'm realizing I'm really hungry, and I think I'll feel better after I eat something.”

“I've had a long day and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I'm going to grab a snack and take a few minutes before I tackle the next thing.”

“I'm a little cranky right now, and I think I need food before I try to solve this problem.” 😂

When kids hear us take care of our basic needs without shame, they learn to notice their own.

Sometimes self-care is a bubble bath. Sometimes it's deep breathing. And sometimes…it's a sandwich. 🥪❤️

Robyn’s birthday!!

Bella and Nicole surprised her this morning with treats and trinkets.

Everyone say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our amazing Robyn!!!

I have so many questions.

Why was there a fork in the bathroom?

Who brought it in there?
What was happening?
And most importantly…

WHY DID NOBODY THINK TO BRING IT BACK?! 😂

I opened the school email.

I read the WHOLE thing.

Not just the bolded part.
Not just the first two sentences.
Not just the part that looked important.

THE WHOLE EMAIL.

And you know what?

I actually know what is happening this week.

Who needs what.
What day it’s happening.
Where they need to be.

Look at me becoming the organized mom I always knew was hiding in here somewhere. 😂

🍎 Family Fun Friday: Apple Tasting Night

Turn a trip to the grocery store into a little family taste test!

Grab 4–5 different kinds of apples and cut them into small pieces. Keep the names hidden and let everyone taste-test their way through the lineup. 🍎

Give each apple a rating for:

⭐ Sweetness
🍏 Crunch
😋 Tartness
❤️ Overall favorite

Then reveal the apple names and see if everyone's guesses were right!

And because we're making this a real event… add some caramel dip. Obviously. 😂

It's simple, inexpensive, gets everyone involved, and might even spark a little friendly family competition.

Which apple will take the crown? 👑🍎

Teen Tuesday: “I Don’t Know” Is an Answer

Sometimes we ask our teens what’s wrong and get:

“I don’t know.”

And we ask again.

“But what happened?”
“Why are you upset?”
“Did someone say something?”
“Are you mad at me?”

…and suddenly they’re even more overwhelmed. 😅

Sometimes “I don’t know” really means “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

Teens are still learning how to recognize, understand, and put words to complicated feelings. They may know they feel off without knowing exactly why.

Instead of pushing for an answer, try leaving the door open:

💬 “You don’t have to know right now.”
💬 “Take some time. You can talk to me when you’re ready.”
💬 “I’m here if you figure it out later.”
💬 “Would it help to just hang out for a while?”

Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is make room for the answer to come later. ❤️

Everyone had socks.

They were clean.

They were not matching.

And honestly? Nobody cared.

At this point, I’m not chasing perfection. I’m chasing functional. 😂

Everyone left the house with socks on their feet and that, my friends, is a Mom Win.