Category Archives: anxiety

Update on the formerly selectively mute daughter

Posted on January 30, 2016 by raisingsmartgirls

She’s 12 now, my bright, spirited, formerly selectively mute child.  She was formally diagnosed in May of 2008 and I wrote about her journey here.  And this was what I said about her official diagnosis in one of those posts: … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, gifted children, highly sensitive child, selective mutism, spd, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Notes on preschools and IEP accommodation for SM kids.

Posted on January 27, 2016 by raisingsmartgirls

A short update:  My now 12 year old formerly SM child has 18 lines (18!) of dialogue in the school play she tried out for this year in middle school.  She’s beyond thrilled!  And so is this mama!   As many … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, gifted children, gifted support, highly sensitive child, IEP for SM kids, selective mutism, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why it’s so important for parents to learn how to emotionally self-regulate.

Posted on February 26, 2013 by raisingsmartgirls

If there is nothing else I can teach my daughters before I leave this world, it’s how to emotionally self-regulate.  I have to admit, it’s been hard. I have complex-PTSD from childhood emotional neglect and abuse (I was ignored until … Continue reading →

Posted in abuse, anxiety, Attachment Parenting, Depression, emotion coaching, emotional dysregulation, explosive child, highly sensitive child, highly sensitive mom, highly sensitive person, Intensity, loss of parental love, mind and body, mindfulness, personal growth, personal issues, selective mutism, social and emotional issues of the gifted, social anxiety | 5 Comments

10 Basic Good Mother Messages

Posted on May 23, 2012 by raisingsmartgirls

I’ve been a mother for 1o.5 years now.  And I need constant reminders about what is good fertilizer to grow children.  I know, so sad, right?  But it’s true. I have read in so many places regarding healing from childhood … Continue reading →

Posted in abuse, anxiety, Attachment Parenting, Depression, emotional dysregulation, gifted adults, gifted children, gifted support, highly sensitive child, highly sensitive mom, Intensity, introspection, loss of parental love, meltdowns, mindfulness, motherhood, my mothering goals, personal growth, personal issues, raising smart girls, suicidal ideation, trauma | 1 Comment

Silent Voices: Jeanne’s Selective Mutism Story

Posted on April 17, 2012 by raisingsmartgirls

I’m honored to share another voice of Selective Mutism. This is the third story in the (hopefully ongoing) series of personal stories of Selective Mutism.  You can read Meagan’s story here and Leanne’s story here. Before I share her childhood … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, guest post, selective mutism, social anxiety | 7 Comments

What I’ve learned – Part II

Posted on November 8, 2011 by raisingsmartgirls

(For part I – please see this post – What I’ve learned-Part I) I must say, resourceful or not, motherhood knocked me on my ass. I can look back now with compassion for myself. Due to my own very difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, Attached Dad, Attachment Parenting, career, Depression, emotion coaching, emotional dysregulation, gifted adults, gifted children, gifted support, highly sensitive child, highly sensitive mom, Intensity, meltdowns, personal growth, perspective | 6 Comments

What I’ve learned – Part I

Posted on November 8, 2011 by raisingsmartgirls

[Due to an obnoxiously long word count, I decided to make this a two-parter] When I started this job almost 10 years ago, I was extremely unprepared for mothering. I’d like you talk about my own mother for a moment, … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, Attached Dad, Attachment Parenting, career, emotional dysregulation, gifted adults, gifted children, gifted support, highly sensitive child, highly sensitive mom, Intensity, motherhood, personal growth | 1 Comment

How to help our kids with depression and sadness

Posted on September 26, 2011 by raisingsmartgirls

Part and parcel with my middle daughter’s high sensitivity comes emotional storms, great highs and devastating lows. I have always worried about this child, most often because she’s a lot like me. Like me,  she intelligently (and sometimes frustratingly) questions … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, childhood depression, gifted support, highly sensitive child, highly sensitive mom, suicidal talk in children | 9 Comments

Opening Closed Doors – Consultant for Selective Mutism

Posted on August 5, 2011 by raisingsmartgirls

Even though my daughter has recovered from selective mutism, I still take an interest and search for useful websites to add to my resources for other parents.  I still find it my desire to provide up-to-date resources and hope for … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, gifted support, highly sensitive child, selective mutism, social anxiety | 13 Comments

Theraplay® for selective mutism and other parenting challenges

Posted on March 30, 2011 by raisingsmartgirls

I’d found out today that my blog was linked to a blog of a parent in Sweden who has a child with selective mutism.  I used Google’s Chrome browser which has a nifty little ‘translate page’ button, otherwise I would … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, Attachment Parenting, creating harmony, emotion coaching, explosive child, highly sensitive child, highly sensitive mom, Intensity, meltdowns, selective mutism, social anxiety, spd, trauma | 6 Comments