New England has seen record amounts of snowfall this year, and there is no end in sight!
Somehow, the novelty of a "snow day" wears off quickly when you have snow day after snow day after snow day!
Although it looks pretty as it is falling, snow becomes a mess when you are trying to navigate roads (and parking lots!) Commute times are lengthened and patience runs short.
First and foremost, we must wonder WHY we put ourselves through this! Frigid temperatures, ice, and snow do not add up to most people's idea of a "good time!"
But then again, maybe it does add up.... This is one of the best ski seasons in our region. Yes, skiing is expensive (but then again, so is therapy- LOL!). Sledding, ice skating, building snow forts... these are not activities just for "kids!" (and they are pretty low-cost!) Winter is a great time to get outside and be active (provided that the temperature is not -10 with the windchill factor!).
"Embracing" winter and all that it has to offer is easier than "hibernating" through it. I think the hibernation component is a contributing factor to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a very real condition, and can be debilitating for some people.
Commonly referred to as the "winter blues," SAD impacts as many as a half-million people each winter. Of interest, women experience SAD at higher percentages than men, and (obviously?) people who live further from the equator are at higher risk. So, short of moving (or having a gender change operation), what can one do to manage symptoms such as irritable and/or anxious mood, sleep changes, carbohydrate cravings, and feelings of sadness?
Regular exercise is important. Indoor exercise is beneficial, but outdoor activity offers the added bonus of fresh air! (Yes, I am giving another shameless "plug" for skiing!) Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule (even on weekends!) is helpful in battling fatigue. Research has also shown that increasing Vitamin D intake is helpful with mood support. However, I am not a physician, so speak to your doctor about these options.
For more serious cases of SAD, people have had positive results with light box therapy. The light mimics natural sunlight, which seems to help with mood. Although these are available for purchase on the internet, it is still a good idea to speak with your doctor before trying this option. And, since you are already speaking with your doctor, you may want to discuss if anti-depressant medication could be an appropriate treatment option. Many people take this type of medication during the winter months.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention therapy as a great treatment option for SAD. At a minimum, it results in getting you outside to get to your appointment- lol! Therapy can be helpful in providing strategies for dealing with mood issues, and also provides a level of "accountability" in how you are following through with utilizing those tools. However, my ultimate dream job is to become the "skiing therapist!" (Yes, that is my FINAL "plug" for skiing!)
Be well,
Parenting in the Technological Age
As a parent of 2 girls, ages 13 and (almost) 12, I struggle with the fact that my daughters know more about technology than I do. I am part of the first generation of parents who are guiding children through situations for which we have no frame of reference.
Yes, every generation presents with new parenting challenges for adults. However, let's be honest... sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll have always been around. The internet, social media, and texting have brought parenting to a whole new level of intensity. Sadly, many of us are not as knowledgeable as we "should" be, and certainly most of us are less knowledgeable than our kids!
The internet allows us to access information that we never imagined would be available to us. However, with that freedom comes responsibility. Our young people are able to access the world from a computer, tablet, or phone. We are no longer readily able to "screen" the people with whom they interact.
Yet, I see parents who also use technology as a "crutch." There is no need to meet your child's friends and their parents, as you can simply do an online background check on anyone. Parents utilize "tracking" systems on their kids' phones as a way to monitor where they are.
Although technology offers convenience and enhancement, I worry that it is becoming so powerful that it could replace traditional parenting techniques, such as asking the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? questions before young people go out. These same questions need to be applied to internet connections and "friendships."
I am also concerned about the implications for communication between family members and friends. Kids can access just about any information on the internet. (Truth be told, there is certainly some convenience when it comes to researching for school projects!) Asking their parents (or other adults) difficult questions is something that can essentially be avoided. I think this is a missed opportunity to "connect" with our kids. They can also receive information that is not aligned with what we would want them to know. There are social implications as well. Our young people are eager to "Face Time" their friends, without actually having "face time!" The ritual of "hanging out" with friends has become theoretical. Even when they are together, young people are often more focused on their phones than on their company.
There are also potential long-term ramifications for kids who may "post" questionable or inappropriate content. Kids do not necessarily have the cognitive capacity to understand how something that they "share" as an adolescent could potentially impact their options for college or careers. Stories of cyber-bullying are rampant. Although "bullying" is not a new concept, the idea that children are unable to "escape" their tormentors is.
Parents often feel powerless in managing their children's exposure to technology. I think it is beneficial to lead by example. Meals should be "technology free" for everyone (Yes, for you too...even if you are expecting that important work call!) Utilizing stories of internet "incidents" can be an opportunity to begin conversations about safe and responsible internet use.
Utilizing parental control software and knowing your child's passwords are also helpful tools in maintaining safety. However, please know that kids are well aware of ways to "outsmart the system!" Kids will have "alternate" social media profiles that they access when they are with friends (Yup, the friends who have parents who are not monitoring their kid's internet use!)
Technology is obviously not going "away." However, like many things, it has its time and place. The key is to let technology enhance, not replace, your relationship with your kids.
Certainly, the impact of technology on parenting is an on-going conversation.
p.s. YES! my 13-year-old helped with setting up this blog!
