Honor American Heroes With Your Teen This Memorial Day
This Memorial Day weekend, families across Contra Costa County—and across the nation—will gather for warm-weather barbecues, time with loved ones, and perhaps a visit to the beach. But for many […]
Don’t Rely on Luck: Protect Your Teen’s Mental Health
Every day, whether through face-to-face interactions or podcast conversations, I have the privilege of speaking to hundreds, even thousands, of adults about the reason A Brighter Day Charity exists and […]
Valentine’s Day Blues: How Is Your Teen Coping?
February and Valentine’s Day usually represent a time of love and everything associated with love. Romance, flowers, jewelry, fine food, and chocolates – these are all good! For your teen, […]
Is Thanksgiving Good For Your Teen’s Well-Being?
It’s a wonderful time of the year. Thanksgiving. One of my favorite holidays. It means lots of family around the dinner table. It means terrific food that we only eat once a […]
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Don’t Become a Statistic!
I am called a “survivor.” My son, Jake, took his life at age 19 by jumping in front of an oncoming truck on a Montana Interstate. Absolutely horrible and our […]
It’s Back to School For Your Teens. Are You Ready For Their Anxiety?
Has this felt like the shortest summer on record for your teen? School begins in just a few days almost everywhere. It was only a few years ago that school systems […]
July 4th: Independence and Your Teen
Let me begin by wishing you a Happy July 4th, the day of the official signing of the Declaration of Independence when we went from a colony to a country. […]
Is Your Teen’s Head on Straight as Schools Open for Fall?
All of us as parents are so grateful that our teens will finally be able to go back to school in a few weeks.This means that they may learn in […]
“My Teen plays sports. No reason to worry now…”
I had always believed that if my children played competitive sports, then the endorphins would kick in and they would generally be happy and protected from feelings of depression. Most […]
Independence Day and Your Teen
Take a moment to step back and think: What were you doing on July 4th, 2020? In our family, I recall we were dealing with a lot of uncertainty. Our […]