Bullying, Depression, and valuing hard work (vs. expecting overnight success.


Hello Reader,

Check out this week's episodes of Overpowering Emotions and Parents of the Year!

Because I am falling behind again, you get two doses...

This week on Parents of the Year, Andrew and I start off all over the place but land on a topic that really gets us thinking: how important is it to teach our kids about the value of hard work and perseverance in a world where social media influencers seem to achieve overnight success?

We're living in an age where new "celebrities" seem to pop up on our feeds every day, flaunting their lavish lifestyles and promoting the myth of effortless success. But what's the reality behind those shiny social media posts? And more importantly, how can we help our kids develop the skills and mindset they need to navigate this world of smoke and mirrors?

LISTEN IN to hear more about the importance of teaching our kids the truth about success and the value of hard work. You won't want to miss it!

And, last week we talked about the hard topic of bullying.

While we do share strategies on how to build your child's confidence, resources, and skills, I also stresses the need to focus on the larger systems to better support our kiddos in the first place.

Bullying is a serious issue that affects many children, and as a parent, it's important to know your role when it comes to bullying. While common, bullying is NOT a normal part of development. Bullying can cause emotional distress, affect academic performance, and even lead to physical harm. These negative effects are immediate and can last your child's lifetime, putting them at risk for other social, emotional, and physical problems throughout their life.

Bullying is unacceptable and needs to be stopped immediately.

While the responsibility is on adults to end bullying, I do have additional resources in a blog post I wrote on developing important skills, encouraging positive relationships, and working with your child's school to create a safe and supportive environment.

LISTEN IN and READ HERE!


And, the past two weeks on Overpowering Emotions, I have talked about depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

This is an important topic because, every year, millions of teenagers struggle with thoughts of depression, deep sadness, isolation, stress, and helplessness. Because of their mental health issues, thousands die by suicide, making it one of North America's leading causes of death among teens. Sadly, and too often, the parents of these teens are the last to learn about their child's mental problems, and sometimes it's too late to take action.

Last week I had the chance to speak with Jayne Wesler on anxiety and suicidal ideation. This week I spoke with Elliot Kallen and his work educating teens, young adults, and their families, about depression and suicide to save lives. Tune in to hear more about the signs to watch out for and what we can do to support children and teens.

Prefer to WATCH Jayne Wesler

Prefer to WATCH Elliot Kallen

Hi! I'm Dr. Caroline Buzanko

I am made up of many things. Psychologist. Mother. Actress. Public Speaker. Yoda of anxiety. ADHD Superhero. Changer of Lives. I work with children, teens, and their families to help them build better lives by maximizing confidence and forging their resilience. I also work with professionals and educators looking for training and approaches to work effectively with their clients. With over 20 years of experience, I know that maximizing confidence and resilience starts with fostering strong family connections, developing skills, and implementing effective, practical strategies to capitalize on strengths. My focus is on developing these skills for long-term success and positive well-being.

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