Valentine’s Day: A Love/Hate Relationship

on February 7, 2018 at 12:10 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. It’s that time of year again, and I really wish I wasn’t reminded by it every time I walk into a store, restaurant or anywhere else for that matter. I’m sick of the hearts taped on doors, the arrow-wielding Cupids on walls and the sudden influx of roses at the flower section. I swear my favorite part of Valentine’s Day is the day after when all the chocolates go on sale for people like me. My sister says I should lighten up and try to do something fun this year,...

Why “Yes” Works: Taking a Break from Being a Constant “No” Parent

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 31, 2018 at 2:34 PM /

Consider the following as they relate to this week’s topic. 16-year old boy: I have to argue with my mom because, no matter what I ask her, her first answer is always no. And if I calmly accept that, she’ll never let me do anything because she’ll think that saying no to me is okay. So, I argue even if I know that what I want is something she’d never let me do. That way, when I ask for more reasonable things, maybe she’ll say yes! Driving home from soccer practice at 8:00 PM on a week night: Take 1: 12-year old girl: Mom, could...

Seeking Too Much: Why Constantly Reassuring Your Children Isn’t Always Good

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 24, 2018 at 8:00 AM /

I’ve noticed over the past year or so that Chelsea has been asking me more and more of the same types of questions. These can range from, “Will you definitely be picking me up from soccer practice after school?”, to “Are you sure that the vegetables in the salad aren’t spoiled?” I usually answer these with a simple and reassuring “yes” to quell her concerns, but it’s getting to the point that she’s needing reassurance for almost everything and is sometimes asking me the same thing but in different ways. Is there any way I can simply ease her away...

Empathy: Go for the Extra Point

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 17, 2018 at 5:05 PM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic. I swear it’s going to be a few weeks before everyone stops talking about the Vikings vs. Saints game that aired this past Sunday. I mean, the guys and I couldn’t believe our eyes! How do you miss a tackle, take out your own teammate and allow a touchdown, all in one play in the dying seconds of a game? As soon as we saw Marcus Williams’ mistake, we couldn’t stop jumping and screaming! We got so rowdy that some of the wives came into the garage to see what...

Smartphone Talk: Is it Time for a Screen Diet?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 10, 2018 at 4:36 PM /

My husband and I went to our anniversary dinner last night and had a great time! We talked about the last year, our goals for the future and even about the possibility of having kids! We’re both really excited, but just as we were discussing a family, we looked up to a sea of kids sitting with their families, with their faces glued to their phones. Now, I know smartphones are a huge part of life nowadays, but it was quite surreal to see so many glowing faces interacting with their screens but not their parents. We talked about potentially...

A Daily Routine: Helping to Keep Your ADHD at Bay

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on January 3, 2018 at 1:57 PM /

My wandering mind is no secret to any of my friends or family, and it can often keep me from completing even the smallest of things. However, my family told me that they started seeing a difference in me once I began to implement a routine for my days. You see, my ADHD can make things difficult, but by using a few strategies that I’ve learned from my therapist, I’ve been able to improve and keep things under control. It’s hard work, but now that my son has been diagnosed as well, I plan to help him, too. Difficulties with regulating...

Dyslexia: What it is and How it Can be Treated

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 13, 2017 at 10:03 AM /

Consider the following story as it relates to this week’s piece. Today I received some worrying news. My 10-year old son, Christopher, was diagnosed with dyslexia. My husband and I were aware that there was an issue when his teacher brought to our attention that he was having some trouble in class. I’ll admit that we’re both terrified. Will he trail behind his schoolmates? Is he going to be held back a grade? Will he even be accepted into a college after high school? I know I’m getting ahead of myself, and Chris’s psychologist explained to us that he can still...

Social Tips: Helping Your Child Connect

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on December 6, 2017 at 12:49 PM /

I was at my mother’s yesterday and was telling her about how Brian can be pretty awkward when he’s with other kids. It’s not that he doesn’t like spending time with his classmates; it’s just that his social cues seem to be…off. I told her that two of his friends told him what appeared to be a secret, and he replied by repeating what he’d just heard loud enough for everyone to hear. While I laughed as I witnessed it, I realized that this might be a sign that his social skills are not exactly honed. I want Brian to...

Kids and Smartphones: When is the Perfect Time for Them to Own One?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 16, 2017 at 11:08 AM /

Last night, I participated in another showing of Screenagers. This time, it was presented at Hillel Academy in Tampa with co-sponsorship by Tampa Day School and Keystone Prep High School with over 100 people in attendance. I led the discussion following the movie and one of the questions that was asked was, “At what age is right or best to give your child a smartphone?” Deciding When the Time is Right Not having an exact age to offer and being well aware of the challenges smartphones come with, my answer was that there would need to be extenuating circumstances to warrant giving...

Multitasking: Not as Good as You May Think

By Dr. Wendy Rice

on November 8, 2017 at 6:42 PM /

We are wondering if you can relate to the following vignette: I hate to admit it, but I was reprimanded at work the other day for making a mistake right before one of our biggest presentations. The thing is, I honestly thought I was doing a very good job leading up to the big moment. I was taking all of the calls I needed from our clients, making pages upon pages worth of notes and doing my research online almost simultaneously. I guess I must have skimmed over some really important information that set back our entire team. My boss was...