January 27, 2023
top trending topics
😱 You found your teen looking at porn… Now what?!
💞 Meet your child’s emotional needs and give them a safe space.
🏘 If your adult child wants to move home, there are definitely some things to think through 1st.
👀 Here’s a glimpse at what technology could be doing to your family.
🛡 Parents! It doesn’t have to be awkward– have the prevention talk with your teen.
tips & tricks for growth
foster the sense of security that your child needs
Your child, even as a baby and a toddler, experiences and learns a thousand new things about their world every day. They are learning what to do when they get hurt, don’t get their way or get mistreated by someone. They’re also finding out how to handle it when they make mistakes and encounter something that’s too hard for them.
✨ Secure relationships help children develop emotionally & give them the freedom to be safe.
The environment that parents provide for them is significant. It helps to determine whether they will have positive growth experiences or develop unhealthy emotional coping skills. Harvard researchers tell us, “The single most common factor for children and teens who develop the capacity to overcome serious hardship is having at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult.”
The trust they have for you as a parent and for the relationship is vital for their development.
Being available to listen, encourage and comfort them when they experience frustration and disappointment can help them learn healthy ways to cope with trauma and stress. When the positive and secure relationship of a parent is present in your child’s life, they are less likely to develop poor relationship skills and unhealthy emotional responses. Feeling secure gives them the ability to develop a true sense of self, develop emotionally, and cultivate strong relationships.
become a (go)al getter
Did you make New Year’s resolutions? How’s it going? For some people, resolutions lead to breaking bad habits or building healthy new habits. But these success stories seem to be the exception, not the rule come February. ✅ How do you make new habits stick?
Despite sincere intentions and best efforts, resolutions are already beginning to unravel for many people.😅 They are beginning to feel frustration and even guilt. These are people who genuinely want to make changes in their lives. What’s the deal?
Let’s talk about expectations and bring in a behavior expert to help us reach our goals…
Are you a “new year, new you” person? Sure, the new year can be an ideal time for a fresh start, but expecting to overhaul your life as of January 1st could be a setup for a letdown.
Improving our quality of life should be something we think about and work on year-round. Consider adopting a “new day, new way” mentality.
let’s get REALatable
It’s time to take things a step further & get a little intimate with a Q&A. What do you say?😉 Learn a little bit about the faces behind all of this relationship gold. This week we’re chatting with Kelly Brugh, (Our newest addition to #TeamFTF!) wife of 6 years to husband Landon, #dogmama to a chocolate lab, and the Vice President of Development here at First Things First. Let’s get REALatable💛 & learn a little bit about her:
Q: Favorite city you’ve lived in?
A: ↘️ I’ve lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Tennessee and I swear I’m not trying to be super cheesy! My favorite city I’ve lived in is Chattanooga, TN. It’s unique with the amount of outdoor activities, history, shopping, fabulous dining, pet-friendly atmosphere, and cultural diversity. Chattanooga is surrounded by other amazing locations in the south within a nearly 2 hour radius: Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta.
Q: Best lesson learned from a stranger?
A: 💛 We live in such a materialistic world, but at the end of the day the only things that matter is your family living under a roof that you call home.
Q: What is your ideal ‘Treat yourself’ day?
A: 💅 Oh man, I’m going to have to plan a day like this now that I’m giving it some serious thought. I’d start the day with brunch with my husband- I’m a real sucker for a good eggs benedict. I’d do a little shopping then get a mani/pedi and a facial. That evening, my husband and I would watch Below Deck on Bravo (Anyone else a fan?) while snuggling with my pup!
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