It’s late December. I know you are busy, so I will keep this short.

Today in the US there is an adolescent mental health crisis among teens and college students. Many are really hurting.

They may be overly stressed with the demands of school, sad with the continued loss of social interactions as COVID ramps up again, worried that their grades and the lack of extracurricular activities from COVID conditions will not be impressive to colleges, etc.

The holidays can be very busy. But plan to check in with your children during some down time. Ask how they are doing. Be prepared to listen and resist jumping in with solutions. Make time to take a walk, watch a movie, play a board game, do a craft, or cook together.

Above all, your child needs to know that you are there for them and that it is okay and healthy to have unscheduled time to unwind and not always be working toward a goal. 

You can also use this time to assess if your child is in acute distress and needs to talk to a health professional.

I wish you and your family a relaxing holiday break, one in which you slow down and enjoy your time together!