Field Guide to Families

Nurturing strong relationships—one issue at a time

by Lynne Griffin, R.N., M.Ed.

Mercy Train: A Novel About Mothers & Daughters

Like many women, my relationship with my mother was complicated. When I was a young girl, she was loving and fun, kind and nurturing, but after tragically losing her husband—my father—she was plunged into a complicated, long-lasting grief. In fact, she was never the same after losing my dad, and it profoundly affected our bond. Read More

Time-Out on Steroids

It's true that today's teen is exposed to real and virtual threats to personal safety. Then why is it that in my travels, talking to so many parents, when I ask them if they know what risk-behaviors their children engage in, most parents honestly say they don't know? Read More

Time is the Currency of Self-Esteem

"How do I give my child a self-esteem?" "If my child doesn't get a [fill in with sticker, souvenir, lollipop, trophy etc] won't that damage his self-esteem?" People ask me lots of questions about self-esteem as if it's an entity or unit that can be measured. Yet "the self-esteem" doesn't sit in some mysterious place in our minds or bodies. Read More

Grieving a Suicide

In the last few weeks we've been inundated with lists: The most fascinating people, the best films, best books. I've never been much of a fan of these subjective directories, especially when compilers remain anonymous, instead I favor going deeper, telling readers about books with the power to create lasting change. Books that teach. Read More

The Case for Keeping Santa

Are you worried you'll lose credibility with your child once he or she finds out about the mythical nature of this children's story? Santa is more of an asset than a liability for parents who want to keep the focus of Christmas on teaching values. It's all in how you incorporate this celebrated gift-giver into your holiday rituals. Read More

The Musical Family

Exposure to music has always enhanced how a child thinks and learns. It's an effective stress reliever and allows everyone in the family a creative way to deal with feelings, handle stress, and connect with each other. Read More

Understanding Eating Disorders

Earlier this year I read a fantastic memoir about one mother's journey, trying to understand anorexia. Brave Girl Eating gives readers a glimpse inside the struggle to beat an eating disorder. I hope you'll gain new perspective after reading my interview with author Harriet Brown. Read More

The Upside to Boy-Girl Friendships

Here's the good news. You can encourage and support opposite sex friendships between boys and girls without encouraging romantic interest. Read More

Why I Work with Families

Family life is complicated and sometimes even messy, though one thing is clear: Positive interpersonal relationships are the single most powerful force in shaping a highly functioning family despite negative influences coming from within it or as a result of external pressure from the popular culture or forces beyond our control. Read More