Getting Comfortable with our Children's Discomfort

I just listened to this podcast and thought I'd pass it along. Nurse Rona Renner and Dr. Christine Carter have a great reminder for parents. Sometimes, we need to encourage our kids to do things, even when they are expressing discomfort, because of the growth that can occur for them.

Since I had a "front row" seat to this story, I just want to say that Dr. Carter handled her daughter's discomfort very well!

When you're faced with one of those moments as a parent when you have to decide, "Do I push this and make him/her try it or not?," remember to think about the big picture of your child's development. Many things that are good for our children are not easy or comfortable at first, so sometimes we have to be okay with our kids feeling uncomfortable, anxious, and unhappy in order for them to have the opportunity to grow.

Talking about Summer Camp podcast: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/gg_live/happiness_matters_podcast/podcast/summercamp/

"Kidsickness": Help for First-Time Camp Parents

     When a child goes to resident camp for the first time, a lot of talk revolves around homesickness, the common term for the well-known phenomenon of missing home and parents.  Much has been discussed in camp literature about the prevention and treatment of homesickness.  Counselors are trained to help campers adjust to camp life and learn coping skills.  What has not been addressed much is the emotional toll a first-time camp experience takes on parents.  In most cases, the experience is harder on parents than it is on their child.  First-time campers find themselves in a fun, exciting environment.  They have little time to miss home when they are meeting new friends, experiencing great activities, and having the time of their lives.  Parents, on the other hand, are often at home missing their child, worrying about how they are doing, and figuring out how to fill time that is normally spent focused on caring for their child.  "Kidsickness" is my term that refers to the emotions some parents feel when they experience their first long separation from their child, which often is a stay at a traditional summer camp.