by Danielle Jenkins, PsyD

So, there’s a concept in psychology that I talk about all the time with my clients. “The Good Enough Mother.” This phrase was coined by Donald Winnicott. When doing research on thousands of babies and their interactions with their mothers, he observed that babies and children actually benefit when mothers make manageable mistakes. The great news with his research (and lots of subsequent research) is that children not only do not need us to be perfect, they actually benefit when we make mistakes and recover or apologize when needed.

This is great news, especially right now in the midst of a pandemic and kids being home from daycare and school. While some families are living their best lives right now, many are navigating tricky and stressful family dynamics. Home schooling may not have been their dream come true. Coworking with their partner with babies and toddlers underfoot is also not ideal for most of us. Tensions will get high and...

By Danielle Jenkins, PsyD 

You are probably overwhelmed with the amount of info coming your way in these wild times. As schools are closing and we are practicing social distancing, here are some ways to stay healthy and mentally well while things are shifting around you.

Stay Active

Staying active is one of the most important ways we can support our bodies and minds in times of stress, illness, and isolation. As we practice social distancing, we need to remain as active as possible. Going for walks and playing outside are great for keeping us feeling our best mentally and physically. Do a jumping jack challenge with your kiddos or challenge everyone in the house to see how many sit ups or push-ups you can do. Set up the living room as a gymnastics zone for a day or so and have a talent show to show off everyone’s routines (you have to practice to be good). Great way to fill time off from school and stay active.

Boost Your Immune System

As the possibility of...