Adoption Stories

Pregnancy

How to Find Your Truth After Pregnancy Loss

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on January 3, 2023

A new study shows that some healthcare providers want you to hide your emotions of grief. We all know there are better ways.

A new study shows that some healthcare providers want you to hide your emotions of grief. We all know there are better ways.

Parenting

How to Be a Child-Centered Parent Without Raising an A**hole

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on September 20, 2022

When kids act like jerks, those moments are opportunities for us as parents to see which skills our kids still haven’t mastered yet.

When kids act like jerks, those moments are opportunities for us as parents to see which skills our kids still haven’t mastered yet.

Anger

How to Manage and Move Beyond Anger

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on February 19, 2022

Being in a relationship with your anger is a powerful way of being in a relationship with yourself, once you understand your anger's needs—and your own.

Being in a relationship with your anger is a powerful way of being in a relationship with yourself, once you understand your anger's needs—and your own.

Introversion

Being an Introverted Parent During the Holidays

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on December 19, 2021

If you a parent who struggles with all that socializing you need to do on behalf of your child, a new book could help you rethink expectations.

If you a parent who struggles with all that socializing you need to do on behalf of your child, a new book could help you rethink expectations.

Grief

How to Help Your Child Understand Grief After a Miscarriage

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on October 14, 2021

Children often capture the purest essence of loss without a word. After your perinatal loss, subtle signs that they are processing grief will emerge. How to help them through.

Children often capture the purest essence of loss without a word. After your perinatal loss, subtle signs that they are processing grief will emerge. How to help them through.

Parenting

Truth, Longing, and Finding Our Way in Motherhood

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on June 5, 2021

"The danger is that we might project our issues onto our child’s experience, and that could mean that we are not perceiving things accurately."

"The danger is that we might project our issues onto our child’s experience, and that could mean that we are not perceiving things accurately."

Child Development

Losing Your Mother for the Whole World to See

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on May 6, 2021

I lived a great deal of my childhood assuming, hoping my situation would change.

I lived a great deal of my childhood assuming, hoping my situation would change.

Rejection Sensitivity

Help Your Kid Build Rejection-Resilience Muscles

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on April 14, 2021

While you would not wish rejection on your child, your role is to support the child while also nurturing a healthy way of coping.

While you would not wish rejection on your child, your role is to support the child while also nurturing a healthy way of coping.

Pregnancy

No, Your Miscarriage Didn't Happen "for a Reason"

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on February 10, 2021

If you are a man with a condition identified in a recent study and your partner miscarried, chances are it’s still not your fault—or hers.

If you are a man with a condition identified in a recent study and your partner miscarried, chances are it’s still not your fault—or hers.

Adoption

When Who You Thought Your Parent Was Turns Out to Be a Lie

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on November 16, 2020

To acknowledge that one has been cleaved from one’s family of origin is a rupture that is typically sudden, shocking, and bewildering.

To acknowledge that one has been cleaved from one’s family of origin is a rupture that is typically sudden, shocking, and bewildering.

Parenting

The Part of Motherhood We Hate to Talk About

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on August 25, 2020

Mothers, in particular, are expected to express strictly positive emotions regarding their children and their parenting role. Repressed emotions intensify ambivalence.

Mothers, in particular, are expected to express strictly positive emotions regarding their children and their parenting role. Repressed emotions intensify ambivalence.

Pregnancy

Altered Motherhood and the Out-of-Order Loss of a Pregnancy

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on August 15, 2020

There is no need to deny one's identity as their mother. Even with loss, your motherhood is valid and can co-exist with your grief.

There is no need to deny one's identity as their mother. Even with loss, your motherhood is valid and can co-exist with your grief.

Parenting

Parenting an Adult Child With Mental Illness

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on July 21, 2020

Chaos sets the standard. In other words, it becomes the norm.

Chaos sets the standard. In other words, it becomes the norm.

Pregnancy

Native Women and Women of Color on Pregnancy Loss and Grief

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on February 25, 2020

The pain of losing a pregnancy compounds exponentially when you are unseen.

The pain of losing a pregnancy compounds exponentially when you are unseen.

Empathy

The Brutality—and Beauty—of Emotion (Happen to Everyone)

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on January 24, 2020

Why do emotions sometimes feel like the singular source of truth?

Why do emotions sometimes feel like the singular source of truth?

Anxiety

Trapped in a Vicious Cycle of Worry About Your Adult Child?

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on November 14, 2019

Is your adult child chronically dependent on you? And more than a little resentful despite all you do?

Is your adult child chronically dependent on you? And more than a little resentful despite all you do?

Pregnancy

The Loss of a Child Versus the Illusion of Control

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on July 5, 2019

"I suppose I would tell someone dealing with this type of horrible loss not to judge their feelings." —Kim Hooper

"I suppose I would tell someone dealing with this type of horrible loss not to judge their feelings." —Kim Hooper

Narcissism

Shielding Kids When Divorcing a Narcissist: 9 Things to Try

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on November 16, 2018

During divorce (or any time of conflict), do not use children or teens as confidants. Stop saying things like: “But they are mature beyond their years”—and get help.

During divorce (or any time of conflict), do not use children or teens as confidants. Stop saying things like: “But they are mature beyond their years”—and get help.

Trust

Why Is It So Difficult to Stop Obsessing About Your Child?

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on February 21, 2017

Do you obsess about your child? Is it wearing you out?

Do you obsess about your child? Is it wearing you out?

Fear

Addicted to Your Kid? Narcissism, Fear and Parenting

Meredith Gordon L.C.S.W. on February 13, 2017

It's possible for people to be addicted to other people—including their children.

It's possible for people to be addicted to other people—including their children.