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April 06, 2021
The Storm Trooper Incident
As parents of kids with SPD, we can plan and prepare and anticipate, we can do our best to protect our kids, to mitigate experiences we know will be challenging. ...
March 03, 2021
Stay Calm When Your Child Isn't with These 7 Steps
It’s the Holy Grail of parenting: Keeping your sh%t together when your child is losing his, euphemistically known as staying calm when your child isn’t. To reach ...
February 19, 2021
Must-Haves for Your Home Sensory Playroom
Meeting your child's sensory needs can be an overwhelming and daunting job, to say the least. It's hard enough juggling all the regular parenting balls - sleep, food, school, homework, ...
February 03, 2021
What is Dyspraxia and How Does it Impact my Child?
The first time my older son's occupational therapist mentioned "dyspraxia," I had absolutely no idea what it meant. She responded to my blank stare with, "it means ...
November 16, 2020
25 Budget- Friendly Stocking Stuffers for Sensory-Sensitive Kids
The holidays are an expensive time of year even under normal circumstances. The pandemic has put an enormous strain on finances, making this holiday season that much more stressful. In ...
November 06, 2020
Holiday Gift Guide for Your Sensory-Sensitive Child
Gift-giving is at the top of my "most stressful things about the holidays" list. If my husband is reading this, he's definitely raising a brow. You see, I ...
October 25, 2020
Everything You Need to Know about the Tactile System
Before I was a mom, I'd never given a single passing thought to the role the tactile system plays in a person's behavior and ability to self-regulate. Then I became ...
October 17, 2020
How a Subtle Hormonal Imbalance can Impact Your Child's Development
Hormones have an enormous influence on a child's development, but because they're poorly understood by many doctors, they often get overlooked in terms of the role they play in a ...
July 23, 2020
The Domino Effect of Poor Energy Metabolism on Your Sensory Kid's Entire System
Through his work with hundreds of children, Integrative pediatrician, Dr. Katiraei of Wholistic Kids and Families has found that a large percentage of Sensory Kids have an underlying physical imbalance ...
June 16, 2020
How I Explained Sensory to my Son
As my son has gotten older, he’s become more aware of his sensory issues and how they make him, well, more sensitive. A couple months ago, during bedtime snuggles, he blurted out, “mommy, why is C so much tougher than me?” ...
May 17, 2020
A Simple and Effective Parenting Tool for Sensory Kids
We parents, myself included, have so many judgments about our kids' behavior. He's doing this on purpose. He's being manipulative. She's just trying to get attention. He just wants his ...
May 08, 2020
In Honor of Mother's Day
Dear Mom, Nearly 43 years ago, you became a second-time-mom to a daughter. Your first child, my brother, was an “easy” baby who “didn’t need much.” Little did you know that you wouldn’t be quite as lucky the second time around! ...
April 26, 2020
10 Tips to Get Your Kids to Listen
You're cleaning up the kitchen after dinner when you notice the time. "Boys," you sweetly call to your kids who are play-wrestling in the other room, "it's ...
April 19, 2020
The Art of an Apology: 5 Steps to Reconnecting with Your Child after You've Lost Your Cool
Staying calm when our kids aren't is a major challenge even for the most zen parents and even under the best circumstances. Take a world-wide pandemic, throw in some homeschooling ...
April 13, 2020
The Pause Button: How to Respond instead of React to Your Kids
Last week, my boys could hardly contain their excitement about Easter. When it came time to dye Easter eggs, they were practically bouncing off the walls with enthusiasm. Things were ...
April 05, 2020
Decrease Power Struggles and Increase Connection with These Steps
As we head into week four of the quarantine, many parents, myself included, are starting to fall apart. Even under the best circumstances, being at home with our kids 24/ ...
March 31, 2020
A Front Line Critical Care Pulmonologist Gives us COVID-19 "Rules" to Protect Our Families
Dr. David Price is a critical care pulmonologist who has been caring for COVID-19 patients all day for the past several weeks in NYC at Weill Cornell Hospital. In this ...
March 29, 2020
Protect Your Family from the Coronavirus with These Immune-Boosting Practices
The definition of anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome which one cannot control. This pandemic has ...
March 22, 2020
5 Tangible Ways to Lower Your COVID-19 Anxiety
In this unprecedented time of uncertainty and fear, we could all use some extra resources to help us and our families stay as calm, centered and healthy as possible. It's ...
March 12, 2020
An Integrative Pediatrician Answers More of Your Questions
A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to hear integrative pediatrician, Dr. Lisa Loegering, speak at a parenting event. I was impressed. I remember taking copious notes and thinking ...
March 08, 2020
Energy Metabolism and Sensory Processing Disorder: What You Need to Know
Almost immediately after my older son was born, I sensed something was “off" - his incessant crying, trouble feeding, inability to be soothed and difficulty sleeping were my clues. ...
February 20, 2020
An Integrative Pediatrician Answers 8 Questions About Your Child's Development
When my older son, H, was one year old, we were fortunate enough to be referred to Dr. Katiraei of Wholistic Kids and Families. At the time, we were living ...
February 07, 2020
6 Potential Causes of Your Child's Sensory Processing Issues
A couple decades ago, the rate of autism was 1 in 10,000. Today it’s 1 in 68. Shocking, right? Similarly, there has been a dramatic increase in the ...
January 10, 2020
5 Developmental Red Flags Your Pediatrician Might Be Missing
At some point during our child’s development, we’ve all asked the same question: Is this normal? Maybe you’ve been concerned enough to ask a family member, friend ...
December 19, 2019
25 Tips to Reduce Sensory Overload at Your Holiday Gathering
Holiday gatherings are the perfect storm for the dreaded sensory-induced meltdown. We all get a little overwhelmed during the holidays, so imagine what it's like for kids whose nervous systems ...
December 13, 2019
Anxiety-Busting Plan for Sensory Moms
We humans don't do well with cognitive dissonance. We like to make sense of things, to put things into their appropriate "boxes," to find patterns and to solve ...
December 08, 2019
10 Tips for a More Enjoyable Holiday with Your Sensory Child
Ahhhh, the holidays. That wonderful and joyous time of year when parents of sensory-sensitive children brace themselves for more meltdowns, more disapproving and puzzled looks from family and friends, more ...
December 01, 2019
3 Tips For Avoiding Holiday Toy Overload
The holidays are here, which means parents all over the world are thinking the same thing- For the love of God, the last thing our kids need are more toys! ...
November 25, 2019
Everything You Need to Know About Vision Therapy
Fact: 80 percent of what we learn comes into the brain through the visual system. Fact: 1 in 4 school-aged children have an undetected vision problem. Fact: Vision disorders are ...
November 17, 2019
What is a Comprehensive Eye Exam and Does My Child Need One?
I literally knew nothing about vision issues prior to my son being diagnosed with one. I naively thought, people either see things clearly or they don't. If they don't, they ...
November 10, 2019
3 Sensory Strategies to Try at Home (for a calmer holiday season!)
The holiday season is quickly approaching which means sensory parents are bracing themselves for more sensory-induced meltdowns, more puzzled looks from friends and family, more unsolicited advice and more… sensory ...
October 29, 2019
The One Piece of Unsolicited Parenting Advice You Won't Mind Hearing
Veteran parents love to tell parents-to-be and first-time parents what to expect and what to do. Their unsolicited advice and admonishments cover topics ranging from sleep- You're going to experience ...
October 08, 2019
What is Sensory Processing and Why is it Important?
“Sensory processing (originally called ‘sensory integration dysfunction’ or SID) refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. ...
October 01, 2019
The Vestibular System: What the Heck is it and Why do I Need to Know About it?
I feel the same way about understanding the vestibular system as I do about meditating, budgeting, and onesie shoulder flaps- I wish I’d known about the life-changing benefits of ...
September 30, 2019
3 Things I Wish I'd Known About Parenting a Child with SPD
I’m going to be honest with you: Five years ago, I had no clue. Despite having graduate degrees in Education and Psychology and having worked with children for the ...
September 23, 2019
15 Sensory Red Flags You May Be Missing
Though it's gaining recognition, Sensory Processing Disorder is still largely unrecognized by our medical, educational and mental health institutions. There are many reasons for this, none of which has anything ...
September 16, 2019
5 Things I Wish People Knew About Parenting a Child With Sensory Processing Disorder
One of the hardest things about parenting a child with sensory processing disorder is the fact that it’s not recognized by our medical, mental health, and educational systems as ...
September 16, 2019
What is Sensory Integration Therapy (OT-SI) and Will it Help My Child?
Conceptualized by psychologist, occupational therapist and neuroscientist, Dr. Jean Ayres, Sensory Integration Therapy (OT-SI) is a form of occupational therapy that uses fun, play-based sensory activities to help a child’s brain respond to sensations and movement in a more “organized” way. ...
August 29, 2019
Picky Eating a Problem? Here's a Solution...
You know you’re the mom of a picky eater when…. You think kids who eat things with mixed textures and who don’t hesitate to try new foods are ...
August 17, 2019
3-Step Back to School Plan for Anxious Kids (And Parents!)
As August flies by, kids and parents all over the world are feeling three common end-of-summer emotions: sadness (no more lazy, unstructured days), excitement (no more lazy, unstructured days), and ...
August 13, 2019
Welcoming Your Second Baby: 5 Ways to Support Your First Child Through the Transition
For the first couple months after his brother was born, my older son, H, did surprisingly well. No major meltdowns or crazy behaviors, he even seemed kind of excited about ...
August 05, 2019
Welcoming Your Second Baby: 5 Things You Need to Know
The day I found out I was pregnant with my older son was one of the happiest days of my life. A year and a half of trying, multiple fertility ...
July 24, 2019
What to Do When One Child Takes up the Bulk of Your Attention
My older son, H, is an incredible kid. He’s curious, bright, hysterically funny, quirky and, at times, sweet (his empathy is a work in progress!). AND he’s our ...
July 05, 2019
10 of the Best Travel Games for Kids (ages 4-8)
Traveling with kids isn't easy, especially with those who have sensory processing challenges like my boys. In an effort to mitigate travel-induced meltdowns, I've been known to get a little ...
June 18, 2019
Summer Travel Tips for Sensory Moms
Summer. It’s the time of year when we loosen the strings a little, let go of our regular routines, relax, and take a vacation. But, let’s face it, ...
June 05, 2019
Everything You Need to Know About Sensory Diets
What You'll Learn: What a sensory diet is How implementing one can benefit your child How exactly to go about "making" one Sensory diets are a hot topic ...
May 28, 2019
15 Calming Strategies for Anxious Moms
A year into motherhood, I half-heartedly joked with a girlfriend about starting a blog called overlyanxiousmom.com. Needless to say, I struggle with anxiety and have since I was a ...
May 18, 2019
Answer These 15 Questions to Improve Your Parenting
Based on years of scientific research as well as his work with thousands of patients, renown child psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Siegel, has concluded that the biggest predictor of a child's ...
May 12, 2019
My Top 10 Mindfulness Hacks for Busy Moms
Happiness, being able to really enjoy our lives and enjoy parenting, is contingent on having good emotional regulation. If you're a therapist and/or you have a child with sensory ...
May 04, 2019
3 Must-Read Books for Parents
Being a good parent is arguably the toughest job on the market. If only there was one how-to parenting manual that, if followed, would guarantee happy, healthy and well-adjusted kids! ...
April 30, 2019
3 Simple Steps to Mindfulness for Non-Meditating Moms
From yoga teachers to Fortune 500 executives, everyone and her brother seems to be talking about Mindfulness singing its praises. So, what’s the deal? What is “mindfulness” and why ...
April 21, 2019
The 1 Simple Thing You Can Do Today and Everyday to Improve Your Child's Behavior
Recently, I saw a funny meme about the multiple benefits of coconut oil. Frizzy hair? Coconut oil. No shaving cream? Coconut oil. Dry skin? Coconut oil. Bad credit? Coconut oil. ...
April 10, 2019
The Dreaded Birthday Party
If you’re parenting a child with sensory issues, there’s a good chance that birthday parties and social gatherings are not your favorite things. Especially if your child is ...
April 06, 2019
Social Stories: What are they, how will they help my child and how do I make one?
The first time I heard the term "social story" was when my son, H, was about to turn two. He'd yet to sleep longer than a two hour ...
March 28, 2019
Potty Training, Power Struggles and How Not to Handle Parenting Disagreements
After a rough-go at potty training, H was finally pee-pee trained, but still holding his ground on Number Two. I was so excited that he was finally peeing in the ...
March 22, 2019
The Unexpected Parenting Lesson I Learned from Potty Training
When my older son, H, was almost two years old, a girlfriend of mine came over for a play-date with her almost four-year-old. The boys were playing when my girlfriend’ ...
March 17, 2019
The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Help Your Child
“My child’s behavior is so extreme, he’s driving me crazy!” “I’ve been told my child has sensory processing issues. I feel so overwhelmed- I don’t know ...
March 07, 2019
A Simple Solution for Your Parenting-Related Worries
Shortly after my first son was born, I knew something was “off.” Our pediatrician dismissed my concerns. She said his constant screaming, feeding difficulties, self-regulation issues, and gross motor delays ...
January 28, 2019
An OT Answers Your Most Pressing Questions About Sensory Processing
Every week I talk to and work with parents of kids who struggle with sensory processing. While each child’s struggles are different, their parents have some common questions. This ...
January 20, 2019
Sensory Tool Kits- What are they and how do I make one?
Sensory processing challenges come in many shapes and sizes. Some kids have trouble figuring out where their bodies are in space and avoid certain kinds of movement while others constantly ...
November 18, 2018
20 Kid-Friendly, Gut-Friendly Recipes for Your Picky Eater
During early toddlerhood, my son H was an amazing eater. Avocado, salmon, broccoli, sweet potatoes, turkey chili, spinach omelettes, green smoothies...that kid would eat anything! Picky eating was a ...
November 12, 2018
Tips for Increasing Gut-Healthy Foods in Your Picky Eater's Diet
You are what you eat. Though we’ve all heard this before, most of us take it for granted. The truth is, the food we put in our bodies has ...
November 05, 2018
25 Gluten-Free Products Your Kids Will Love
If you read my post about the first step to improve your child's gut health and asked yourself, How in the world do I remove gluten from my child's diet? ...
October 28, 2018
Improve Your Child's Gut Health in 5 Simple Steps: Step 5
We're on the final step for improving your child's gut health. If you're just joining us, here are the first four: Replace gut-irritating foods with gut-healing foods (this is your ...
October 18, 2018
Improve Your Child's Gut Health in 5 Simple Steps: Step 4
If you're just joining the gut health series, let me get you up to speed (and if you've been along for the ride, here's a quick refersher!)... Our overall health ...
October 17, 2018
Improve Your Child's Gut Health in 5 Simple Steps: Step 3
Gut health series recap: A healthy gut = a healthy child More "bad bugs" than "good bugs" (gut dysbiosis) = physical, mental and emotional disorders Neurological disorders like ...
October 03, 2018
How to Improve Your Child's Gut Health in 5 Simple Steps: Step 2
If you've been following my gut health series, you're up to speed on the importance of gut health, the risk factors for gut dysfunction in children and the first step ...
October 01, 2018
Improve Your Child's Gut Health in 5 Simple Steps: Step 1
If you’ve been following my gut health series, you know that the quality of our health and the health of our kiddos depends on the quality of bugs in ...
September 26, 2018
Healthy Gut, Healthy Child: 5 Risk Factors for Gut Dysfunction in Children
Did you know that a healthy gut is the key to a healthy brain? If you read my last post, you learned about the human microbiome and its influence on ...
September 11, 2018
Gut Health and SPD: What You Need to Know
Hippocrates (aka- The Father of Medicine) famously said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Well, it’s taken modern medicine quite awhile to get on board, but research over the ...
September 03, 2018
The Scientifically Proven Way to Improve Your Parenting
Recently I was commiserating with a girlfriend about one of my (many) parenting fails. I’d been triggered by my older son, completely lost my cool and shouted something to the effect of, “H! You’re driving me insane!” ...
August 13, 2018
3 Beneficial Alternative Therapies for Sensory Processing Disorder
If your child is struggling with sensory processing disorder, the first thing you need to do is find an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration therapy. A research-based treatment, ...
July 29, 2018
My Top 10 Sensory Toy Picks
In the beginning of my older son’s journey with SPD, I bought any and every sensory toy that presented even the tiniest possibility of being helpful. Anything H’s ...
July 23, 2018
3 Must-Read Books for Every Parent of a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder
In the beginning of my older son’s journey with sensory processing disorder, I devoured every sensory processing related book I could get my hands on. My anxiety about H’ ...
July 16, 2018
5 Real Time Strategies for Managing Your Child's Explosive Behavior
If you’ve read the last two blog posts, you’re familiar with Dr. Ross Greene’s philosophy, "Kids do well if they can." If you’re new ...
July 09, 2018
How to Decrease Your Child's Explosive Behaviors
“Kids do well if they can.” Take a minute to let that phrase sink in. Now think about your child. Your amazing, curious, sensitive, energetic, thoughtful, creative...annoying, difficult, explosive ...
July 03, 2018
Understanding Your Child's Explosive Behavior
I HATE YOU!!! Punches the wall, makes a growling sound, looks for something to throw. I'M MAD AT YOU!!! YOU'RE STUPID!! Throws nearest toy then punches little brother. NOOOOOOOO!!! I ...
June 04, 2018
Sample Letter to Family and Friends Explaining SPD
The only thing more difficult than understanding sensory processing disorder and how it affects your child is trying to explain it to other people. After many frustrating conversations (on both ...
May 14, 2018
8 Ways to Improve Your Child's Behavior (Without Using Shame or Punishment)- Part 2
Here are four more ways to guide your child's behavior while modeling love and empathy and staying connected. 5. Adopt The Motto- “Children need the most love when they act ...
May 14, 2018
8 Ways to Improve Your Child's Behavior (Without Using Shame or Punishment)- Part 1
Now that we’ve ditched the old parenting paradigm of using shame and punishment to “teach” our kids how to behave, we need ways to help guide them when their ...
May 04, 2018
Discipline a Problem? This May Be Why
Spare the rod, spoil the child. This phrase, inspired by several passages in the Old Testament, sums up the parenting philosophy that most of us, and many preceding generations, were ...
April 29, 2018
A Word on Transitions
My son, H, started physical therapy when he was six months old and his physical therapist was the first to introduce me to sensory processing disorder. I was at the ...
April 21, 2018
5 Phrases You Need in Your Parenting Tool Box
Tool boxes aren’t just for hammers, drills, and ten different kinds of screwdrivers. You also need a “parenting tool box” full of techniques, phrases, and actions that help manage ...
April 15, 2018
How to Overcome the 5 Most Common Obstacles to Consistent Special Time
Now that we know the magic of spending quality daily one-on-one time (Special Time) with our kids, we need to put it into action. Unfortunately, knowing something is important doesn’ ...
March 23, 2018
Riding the Wave of SPD
Sensory Processing Disorder manifests in different ways for each child. But anyone who has a sensory overresponsive child can relate to my story. ...
March 08, 2018
Marriage Hack #8: Humor Me
Before I got married, I asked my mom about the secret to her 50 year marriage to my dad. Without hesitation, she replied, “Humor.” Then she added, “No matter how ...
March 04, 2018
Marriage Hack #7: Say it in Writing
Good communication is the key to a solid, connected and happy marriage. So, what do you do when there are topics you and your partner just can’t talk about? ...
January 29, 2018
Marriage Hack #6: Coffee Walks
When you have kids, especially young kids, and especially especially young kids with extra challenges, finding time to connect with your partner seems as doable as climbing Mount Everest. In ...
January 13, 2018
Shifting Out of Fear
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about fear. I’ve been noticing how many of my thoughts about parenting and my kids are fear-based. Why is H acting out ...
November 01, 2017
Marriage Hack #5: Practice Non Violent Communication
This is actually a thing. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a communication process developed by Marshall Rosenberg, who describes it as “a way of communicating that leads us to give from ...
October 25, 2017
Marriage Hack #4: Fake it Till You Make it!
Research has shown that even when you aren’t happy, if you smile, your brain is tricked into thinking you are happy which then triggers the production of neurochemicals that ...
October 18, 2017
Marriage Hack #3: Embody Gratitude
I am convinced that gratitude is the solution to everything! The problem is that it can seem nearly impossible to feel grateful towards your partner when you are at odds ...
October 11, 2017
Marriage Hack #2: Give 'Em the Benefit of the Doubt
When tensions run high in a marriage, it can be easy to play the blame game — pointing fingers and assuming the worst. According to John Gottman, a psychologist and leading ...
October 04, 2017
Marriage Hack #1: Schedule Alone Time
Remember how great my husband, A, is? Well, he made an excellent point while we were in the depths of our stress and struggling to bridge the huge divide in ...
September 27, 2017
Marriage Hacks
Before I had kids, I didn’t understand people who would refer to marriage as “work”. Being absolutely crazy about my husband, I would think to myself, “What are they ...
September 06, 2017
3 Things You Can Do to Stay Calm When Your Child Isn't
Just when you’re past the sleepless nights, the crazy, twisting road of nursing, and figuring out the ins and outs of solid foods, you start to think you’ve ...