New Waters, Stronger Oars
We are three psychologist moms traveling on this new uncharted path with you.
We are here to help by sharing tools, insights, and resources with you as we learn and re-learn hot to navigate this new world.
Zoom fatigue is real! Parents and kids are experiencing it alike. As kids are starting virtual school, check out this tool called the "Attention Bulls-eye" and how we can use it with kids to help with that end of the day burn out.
How to use the attention bulls-eye:
First, Teach it to your kids. Draw it out together and talk about what the different levels mean:
1. "I am focused and calm"
2. "I am moving around in my seat or having some feelings, and I still know what is happening and can do my work"
3. "I am working hard to stay calm or focused. I still know what is going on and can do my work"
4. "I am feeling frustrated or anxious or sad. I can't really focus well or my feelings are big. "
5. "I can't focus. I am asleep or upset or not in my workspace."
Then, talk about taking a break at 3. Most people break at 4, we want to work on taking short breaks at 3 to help keep us on track. At 4, we need longer breaks and it may take longer to recover.
Practice Brain and Body breaks. A brain break may be taking 5 deep breaths or tensing and relaxing our muscles or doing a few yoga poses! A body break may be 10 jumping jacks, 10 sit-ups, or running up and down the stairs three times. See which ones help your kid the most.
Then, watch for signs of fatigue and take short breaks. Typically every 20 - 30 minutes.
Join us in out next video where we learn from Dr. Kerry Main-Byrd about compassion or "Love put into action." Dr. Kerry explains how compassion can be a helpful approach to addressing our depleted and overwhelmed feelings through a recognition of the suffering in ourselves, family and community that then leads us to helpful action. These brief practices make a difference in our burn-out and our feelings of disconnection. Dr. Kerry walks us through 1) definitions of compassion, 2) how compassion can be helpful, 3) barriers to compassion, and 4) some resources for how to get started.
Check out additional resources in the comments section below.
06/07/2020
Hello New Waters, Stronger Oars community. As psychologist moms we have been listening, reflecting, self-educating and responding to the Black Lives Matter movements and the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black lives taken too soon. A post today is long overdue and serves as a reminder to ourselves about the dedication of long-term action, not momentary reaction, in avenues where we have a voice to address systemic racism.
I, Amanda N'zi and the writer of this post, have focused my reflection on my White privilege and identifying ways I contribute to racism in my business, my professional role, my work with families, and my home.
I have shared a lot of stories recently and realized that the stories I have shared that have meaning right now are not mine, but the stories of my Black husband, Black son, Black friends and Black colleagues fighting the impact of racism everyday.
So on this Monday, I am sharing two resources that were suggested to me by Dr. LaTrice Dowtin, licensed professional counselor and director of PlayfulLeigh Psyched, LLC, that continue to shape and impact my roles as a child psychologist and mother. I share them with you so their work may continue. I am committed to doing better.
The first is EmbraceRace. This organization was started in 2016 to share resources to help raise children "in a world where race matters."
https://www.embracerace.org/
The second is the National Black Child Development Institute. Their "work to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and their families helps support the successful growth and development of children who are too often left behind without access to resources and opportunities to be their best selves."
https://www.nbcdi.org/support-nbcdi
NBCDI | Support NBCDI The National Black Child Development Institute believes that every child deserves a chance to succeed. Our work to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and their families helps support the successful growth and development of children who are too often left behind without acces...
01/06/2020
The Vaniman family learned some important and hard lessons during their daughter's cancer journey. In this month's The Meg Foundation blog, mom Ines does an amazing job of sharing how those lessons can help us all in this weird time.
"There's no point in looking at the horizon when we don't know how far that is."
For Ines' family, much of what they've learned during her daughter's cancer journey is helping them get through the current crisis. It could help your family, too. Read now: https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/blog/lessons-from-the-trenches-tips-on-getting-your-family-through-uncertain-times
COVID-19 has brought a lot of challenging moments, changing circumstances, and BIG feelings. This video explores a framework to help kids and parents navigate big emotions. Join Dr. Kerry, Dr. Amanda, and Dr.Jody, licensed psychologists and fellow moms, as we share examples from our daily life and discuss how to 1) observe yourself, 2) observe your kids, and 3) create a plan with the resources you have.
cc: Growing Together Child and Family Therapy, Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd, The Meg Foundation
19/05/2020
Words for wisdom we can all benefit from...
Be intentional. Take note of what's helping you get through this & what's NOT helping. See more tips from Ines: https://www.megfoundationforpain.org/blog/lessons-from-the-trenches-tips-on-getting-your-family-through-uncertain-times
09/05/2020
Navigating choices in uncertainty: Tips for tackling yet another COVID challenge
In many ways coming out of whatever level of quarantine or shelter in place you experienced is harder that going in. Why? More uncertainty about what to do, and more need to make choices for ourselves, which is complicated by the fact there is much about COVID we just aren't able to know yet. Dr. Jody Thomas and Dr. Amanda N'Zi offer some perspective and tips for dealing with the questions we all will have to tackle and we move through these new and uncharted waters.
https://youtu.be/nqQjf5Hek4c
Navigating choices in uncertainty: Tips for tackling yet another COVID challenge In many ways coming out of whatever level of quarantine or shelter in place you experienced is harder that going in. Why? More uncertainty about what to do, ...
01/05/2020
"The reason to recognize and acknowledge emotions is because they give us information about the life we long for."
Dr Kerry and Joe Phillips of Stapleton Scoop and Focus Realty talk about what parents can keep in mind as we transition to a new chapter.
Interview 4 of our "We're in this Together" series with Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd In this interview Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd talks about what to keep In mind as we slowly come out of our houses. - In an effort to feel safe and in control we ha...
Dr Kerry talks about the concrete applications of practicing resilience in uncertain times. **Key points: Acknowledge what you don't have control over (lots of things), focus on what you have control over (your own behavior), connect with others who really "get* it, and start taking notes on what you might learn from this time. Shout out to Denver Feed It Forward as a great way to take compassionate action!
cc: Growing Together Child and Family Therapy The Meg Foundation Dr Kerry Makin-Byrd Stanley Marketplace
Soooo many hard conversations with the little people right now, often about things we are struggling with ourselves. Here's a a few tips on how to manage those with at least a little more comfort!
20/04/2020
Physical symptoms and pain are really common for kids experiencing stress and anxiety. This is a good article to learn more about the silent ways children and their bodies express emotional distress.
Silent Signs Your Child Is Stressed We asked experts which symptoms may indicate a kid is struggling — and how to treat them.
Welcome to our first few videos! This about understanding those huge waves of emotion we are all experiencing (in ourselves and our kids) and some stretegies on what we can DO with them. Questions? Feedback? Just let us know if the comments!
This video by psychologist Dr. Jody Thomas is about understanding the huge waves of emotion we are all experiencing, and finding better ways to get through them.
Dr. Thomas is an expert in medical illness and trauma, faculty at the Stanford School of Medicine, and the executive director of the Meg Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering kids and families.
14/04/2020
Mental Health Checkup & Toolkit | Activities Homeschool your family in an optimistic mental health strategy that teaches how to manage stress, stay healthy AND get excited about the future.
Welcome to New Waters, Stronger Oars. We are three psychologist moms responding to the new challenges presented by the recent pandemic. We created this page to share insights, resources, and tools as we learn and re-learn how to navigate these uncharted waters.
Respond in the comments with questions or DM us so we can continue to answer your questions!
27/03/2020
Videos (show all)
