BERGEN COUNTY MOMS

Children don’t always have the words to express grief—but it often reveals itself through their behavior, thoughts, emotions, and bodies. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward offering meaningful support, understanding, and care. The Lukin Center has partnered with Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss , to help support children and families navigating grief. Together, they aim to bring awareness to the many ways loss can impact young people and to ensure familie

“Individualized instruction” is more than a phrase at Saddle River Day School —it’s a promise brought to life through meaningful, personalized academic pathways. One of the most distinctive ways SRDS fulfills this commitment is by offering students the opportunity to begin Upper School and even college-level coursework while still in Middle School. Students who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in a subject are identified by their teachers and, through a combination of placeme

Living with a teen can be utterly draining. It reminds me of parenting a toddler. You might want to trade them in, but there are no returns, no refunds, no exchanges, all sales are final. What’s a parent to do? Have you noticed the similarities between toddlers and teens? I remember my son as a toddler. He had too much energy, and didn’t like the word ‘no’. His words weren’t always clear , which increased frustration for both us. When he wanted something, he kept going and

Many parents find themselves exhausted trying to navigate the school system while advocating for their child’s needs. When something doesn’t feel right—academically, emotionally, or behaviorally—the process of getting answers can quickly become overwhelming. School jargon, meetings, timelines, evaluations, and questions about eligibility often leave families feeling confused, intimidated, and alone. Dr. Dinah Braude Kremberg is a licensed psychologist at Lukin Center for Psyc

When I was a middle school teacher, “The 6 Pillars of Character” program was launched in schools across the country. There were wall hangings in the lunchroom, poster and creative writing contests, and a few “character ed’ activities sprinkled through the year. The truth is that even with the best of intentions, this was a feel-good, surface-level program. Without daily focus on character at home and school, it wasn’t going to make much of a difference. I admit I’m a bit of s

Have you ever kept your feelings to yourself? Because they're big, maybe too risky to express? If so, you can understand why your teen may hide their feelings and shut you out. While it's normal that kids don't want to share with their parents, there's a big downside. Hidden, negative feelings grow and lead to depression and isolation. They see their feelings as bad, and judge themselves as different, weird, abnormal. The first step to help your teen through this is to neutra

Parents do it all the time — we watch, we worry, we analyze, and we try to fix. It comes from love, of course. But when your energy is focused on what your teen should be doing, you might be neglecting what’s happening in your own thoughts and reactions. Every time you micromanage, remind, or overanalyze your child’s choices, you’re essentially stepping into their business — their responsibilities, their emotions, their learning curve.  And while you’re doing that, who’s tak

When a child experiences anxiety, a parent’s natural instinct is to step in and make the discomfort disappear. While this response comes from a place of love, certain accommodations can unintentionally reinforce the anxiety cycle over time. S.P.A.C.E. Therapy (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) empowers parents with practical, evidence-based tools to respond differently—helping children build confidence, independence, and long-term emotional resilience with

As parents, our primary job is to prepare our children for life. Yet, so much emphasis is placed on academic preparation for college, often at the expense of nurturing the attitudes and skills that truly help them navigate life’s challenges. While a solid education is important, preparing for life goes beyond textbooks and classrooms  —it involves encouraging our kids to experience life firsthand. We are all experiential learners; we learn best by doing. The lessons we learn

A goal is connected to an emotion. It’s great when the emotion is excitement; your brain will naturally want to move toward it. However, if it feels like pressure — something you need to do or should do — instead of something you want to do , your brain will see it as a burden. You’ll likely procrastinate and maybe give up. Your brain gives you what you think most about: the good, the bad, and the ugly. What if you stop using "need to, have to, and should" and replace them w

With the season of giving upon us, you’re likely searching for thoughtful gifts that build connection and resilience rather than just adding to the toy clutter. As a licensed psychotherapist specializing in child development, I’ve compiled my top ten therapeutic resources that make excellent holiday gifts while supporting your child’s emotional growth and mental health. These aren’t just books and toys—they’re evidence-based tools that help children develop crucial skills lik

In my world, a curious question is designed to help your teens think for themselves and learn to problem-solve. A curious question is not: checking up on your teen. a way to make yourself feel better that things are getting done. to help you feel empowered, that you’re doing something. ‌ Because curious questions are not about you. ‌ Let me say that again. Curious questions are not about you. ‌ They are entirely about your child. They are questions that nudge your child int

The holidays have a way of bringing everything to the surface—love, loss, gratitude, regret. Even the anticipation of the season can stir up emotions you thought were settled.  When you’re estranged from an adult child, those feelings can intensify. A time that’s supposed to be warm and joyful can instead feel tender, complicated, or even painful. If this is where you find yourself, you’re not doing anything wrong. You might be torn between wanting to celebrate and wanting th

Every parent’s worst nightmare: your child’s screaming, blood is spilling from a deep cut, and your heart races with fear. You scramble for a towel, trying desperately to stop the bleeding, and without thinking twice, you rush to the emergency room, hoping that everything will be okay. But here’s the truth: many parents don’t realize until it’s too late: the ER isn’t always the best place for your child to get stitches, especially for facial or visible cuts. Between the long

I'd had a bad morning. Things were happening around me and I knew I had to keep my distance. This is really hard when I’m overwhelmed by all the things that can possibly go wrong in the aftermath.  I didn’t call anyone, didn’t stick my nose into the problem between other family members. Instead, I went into distress.   As I’ve heard it said, my mind is a dangerous neighborhood and I should never go there alone. Duly noted.   So I listened to an interview with Melody Beattie,

What we need and what we want for our children with disabilities are often at paradoxical odds with one another. The idea of “independence” comes up a lot, particularly when we’re discussing therapies and schooling, but we do not mean in the absence of human connection . The idea of “productive member of society” comes up when we are defending the worthiness of adults with disabilities who may or may not be able to fully participate in the current job market, but we do not me

Rock bottom and estrangement - the turning point you didn't choose. In addiction circles, you often hear the phrase "rock bottom." It's that lowest possible point where despair takes hold of you, and you feel hopeless and helpless.   For parents facing estrangement, rock bottom may come when you finally realize your child truly won't answer your call... when another birthday passes in silence... or when the holidays bring more dread than joy.   Rock bottom is different for ev

GIVE ME, BUY ME, GET ME. Your teen may know how to spend money, but do they really understand how to manage it? Talking about budgeting and saving isn’t enough. Having an open-wallet policy won’t teach them how to save, invest, and wisely spend money. And when they spend and you pay, you end up resentful at their lack of appreciation. Your teen must experience the process to learn the skills. And the skills are more than just creating a budget. In the  November 18th  Group P

Whether your child had stitches after a playground tumble, a kitchen accident, or a sports injury, you’re likely thinking: how can I help my child heal well and what can I do to minimize scarring?  The good news is that a few simple scar care steps at home can go a long way in making sure your child heals smoothly and with the least visible reminder of their injury. “The care you give in the days and weeks after sutures can make a big difference in how your child’s skin heals

Join Our Virtual  Adolescent & Multi-Family DBT Group  Starting  November 13!  Gain skills and support for the whole family, all from the comfort of your own home. What is DBT? Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a structured, skills-based program designed by Dr. Marsha Linehan. It’s a  gold-standard approach  for individuals and families dealing with intense emotions, communication breakdowns, and behavioral cycles. The program  teaches practical, life-changing tools  acro