More than Words: How Listening Builds Connection
For Children with Trauma Histories, Being Heard is Critical. Many have never been given a voice in decisions that affect them. If they have experienced neglect, they receive a clear message: no one listens. Over time, they may stop expressing themselves altogether. Internalizing emotions to avoid rejection can lead to fear and anxiety. Drawing out […]
Back To School Tips & Tricks
Back to School Parents may both cheer and dread these three words. Some feel hopeful about new beginnings, friendships, and learning. Others are anxious about learning struggles and loneliness. As parents of children who have experienced Complex Developmental Trauma, we have yet another layer to consider. Often, our children struggle with transitions. When our kids […]
Saving Reasons Until the End
Devon* is an 11-year-old living with his grandmother. His mom left the family years ago and his dad recently went to prison. Devon misses his dad and doesn’t understand why his grandma acts more like his school principal than the fun lady who used to spoil him. He becomes emotional easily and sometimes has a […]
Staff Recommendations
These books cover challenging topics, so we encourage you to read them with your children, and discuss them. Ages 4-8 Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad Written by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Scholastic Press Ella Queen of Jazz Written by Helen Hancocks, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books The Story […]
Strengthening Our Children’s Stories
“We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.” Jonathan Gottschall Stories. We love the stories we find in books and movies. We love the stories we find in books and movies. Our culture spends significant amounts of time […]
The Decade of Family
Remember when former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro declared the Decade of Downtown for San Antonio in 2010? What if we call it now? 2020 — the Decade of Family! Not original to me, but borrowed from a bold proclamation by Unicity, a movement to unite the city. What incredible progress has been made to revitalize […]
No Replacements Necessary
“How would you feel if Grammy walked away from you? I feel like I wasn’t wanted.” This is what one of my daughters tearfully said to me about sixteen years after she was adopted. We were standing in our family room on the day of a school discussion that triggered big emotions. She was asking […]
