Facing Life's Challenges

Parenting

What Does It Mean When Your Child Says 'I Hate You'?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on May 31, 2026

Most parents have heard the words "I hate you" when something was happening between them and their child. Here's how to think about this inevitability and respond to it.

Most parents have heard the words "I hate you" when something was happening between them and their child. Here's how to think about this inevitability and respond to it.

Parenting

Does Your Child Compare Themself Negatively to Other Kids?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on May 4, 2026

Many children go through a time when they feel inferior. Here are some thoughtful and simple steps to address the causes of children putting themselves down.

Many children go through a time when they feel inferior. Here are some thoughtful and simple steps to address the causes of children putting themselves down.

Parenting

A Classmate Has Died. How Do I Talk About It With My Child?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on April 12, 2026

Talking with a child when they lose a peer can be daunting. Asking them to think about this as a fact can feel cruel. It's best to approach with a well-considered plan.

Talking with a child when they lose a peer can be daunting. Asking them to think about this as a fact can feel cruel. It's best to approach with a well-considered plan.

Parenting

What Do I Do If My Child Won't Talk About an Upsetting Time?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on March 7, 2026

Do you worry when your child doesn't talk about something that upset them? Here's an approach for clarifying how your child is coping while building closeness and trust.

Do you worry when your child doesn't talk about something that upset them? Here's an approach for clarifying how your child is coping while building closeness and trust.

Parenting

How to Help Your Child When They Are Withdrawn and Moody

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on February 9, 2026

A hard part of parenting is learning not to fix it when you see your child hurting. Future independence is built on letting your child work things out for themselves.

A hard part of parenting is learning not to fix it when you see your child hurting. Future independence is built on letting your child work things out for themselves.

Parenting

Parenting Your Child So They Will Talk With You

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on January 14, 2026

When your child doesn't open up to you, you may feel shut out and worried. Here are two key ways to raise your child to communicate with you even when they are teenagers and older.

When your child doesn't open up to you, you may feel shut out and worried. Here are two key ways to raise your child to communicate with you even when they are teenagers and older.

Parenting

Why Birthdays Can Be So Complicated for You and Your Child

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on December 4, 2025

Birthdays can be a cause for celebration or consternation, and they may raise deep emotions at any age. Here's how to ease the potential disappointments for you and your child.

Birthdays can be a cause for celebration or consternation, and they may raise deep emotions at any age. Here's how to ease the potential disappointments for you and your child.

Education

The Poor Report Card: What It Means and How to Handle It

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on November 2, 2025

When reviewing disappointing grades, some parents become upset. Here's how to have better conversations.

When reviewing disappointing grades, some parents become upset. Here's how to have better conversations.

Parenting

Rage Baiting: It's Not Your Father's Bullying Any More

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on October 3, 2025

Parents often have difficulty experiencing their child being upset by a peer. How do you re-find your emotional balance and help your child deal with their upset?

Parents often have difficulty experiencing their child being upset by a peer. How do you re-find your emotional balance and help your child deal with their upset?

Forgiveness

How to Teach Your Child to Make a True Apology

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on September 14, 2025

Children may blame someone else or include "if I was wrong" in their apology. Here are tips on how to teach your child to make a true apology.

Children may blame someone else or include "if I was wrong" in their apology. Here are tips on how to teach your child to make a true apology.

Resilience

How Can You Possibly Feel Hopeful When Things Are Not OK?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on August 6, 2025

Hope is the fuel that keeps us going in difficult times. It depends on imagining a positive outcome even if it seems unlikely. The trick is to redefine what you wish for.

Hope is the fuel that keeps us going in difficult times. It depends on imagining a positive outcome even if it seems unlikely. The trick is to redefine what you wish for.

Parenting

How to Talk Through a Child's Worries About War

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on July 21, 2025

War is raging, and kids can feel their parents' tension when they discuss it. When children get scared, here's how to talk with them about it.

War is raging, and kids can feel their parents' tension when they discuss it. When children get scared, here's how to talk with them about it.

Parenting

How to Talk With Your Child When You Are Facing an Illness

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on June 1, 2025

There is nothing like facing your own mortality. Enduring medical tests and waiting for a diagnosis can be daunting. How do you care for your child as you go through this?

There is nothing like facing your own mortality. Enduring medical tests and waiting for a diagnosis can be daunting. How do you care for your child as you go through this?

Grief

What Are Grief Surprises?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on May 6, 2025

One aspect of grief that you and your child will experience is "grief surprises." These can shake you up, but naming them helps you find a way through.

One aspect of grief that you and your child will experience is "grief surprises." These can shake you up, but naming them helps you find a way through.

Parenting

How You Can Help Your Child Be Courageous

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on April 7, 2025

When parents are open to sharing their experiences with fear, they can raise children with courage.

When parents are open to sharing their experiences with fear, they can raise children with courage.

Depression

Is My Child Unhappy or Depressed?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on March 2, 2025

Children often present as moody and unhappy. Parents can learn to support them through hard times.

Children often present as moody and unhappy. Parents can learn to support them through hard times.

Relationships

The One Thing Your Child Needs for a Happy Successful Life

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on February 8, 2025

We all long for our children to be happy and successful. The path to it is unconditionally loving them. It takes understanding yourself and expressing love, even when angry.

We all long for our children to be happy and successful. The path to it is unconditionally loving them. It takes understanding yourself and expressing love, even when angry.

Parenting

Should You Talk With Your Child About Death?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on January 19, 2025

Just as death is inevitable, speaking with a child about death is an inevitable part of parenting. Parents often shy away from this due to fear.

Just as death is inevitable, speaking with a child about death is an inevitable part of parenting. Parents often shy away from this due to fear.

Parenting

Santa Claus: The Case for Not Telling

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on December 9, 2024

Parents often wonder how to handle the age-old question of whether Santa Claus is real or pretend. We present the benefits of maintaining the belief.

Parents often wonder how to handle the age-old question of whether Santa Claus is real or pretend. We present the benefits of maintaining the belief.

Parenting

How You Can Help Your Child Find Ease During Hard Times

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on December 5, 2024

Your life will inevitably have hard times. You can help yourself—and teach your child—to get through them with a simple mental exercise.

Your life will inevitably have hard times. You can help yourself—and teach your child—to get through them with a simple mental exercise.