Parenting Blog

"Dr. Laura....I was moved by Liza Long's plea in her post "I am Adam Lanza's mother" but bothered by her approach to her son. Couldn't that be part of the problem? Or is he just a boy whose problems are too big to do anything about except to medicate him or lock him up, like the Sandy Hook shooter?"  READ POST

"Dr. Laura... I'm finding myself unable to focus on being present with my children, suffering from horrible headaches, trouble falling asleep and just completely disturbed as a mother in this country. How can we as parents cope with our own emotions over this tragedy?" - Michelle   READ POST

Kids don’t suddenly become mass murderers at age 20 without any prior warning. When a teen or young adult acts out violently, the people who knew him well invariably say there was something “off” about the person for some time. And while someone who shoots strangers is by definition mentally ill, that alone isn’t the reason for their violent act, given that mentally ill people are actually more likely to become victims of violence than to commit it. So why do some kids become violent, and how can we help them, to prevent more senseless tragedies?  READ POST

"We chat, talk, tweet, stream, and absorb violence with a hunger. It’s just so horrifying that sometimes it’s hard not to watch. We follow along in bed, on the bus, in our cars (!), and during our face to face time with loved ones and family. This news is upsetting and torrential. Many of us are left feeling a bit helpless or vulnerable. So are our children." - Wendy Sue Swanson

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” - Mr Rogers
  READ POST

"At this time of year, when the sun is most hidden, the holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the rays of hope and light. Indeed, the physical darkness of this time of year can be a metaphor for the darkness that often envelopes us ... when the world sometimes feels dark and cold. At such times, we yearn for the sun, and the light and warmth that it provides. Often, it is through simple and unrecognized miracles that we are able to feel the warmth of hope and light." -- Rabbi Rafael Goldstein  READ POST