The Miraculous Transformation

I have always been fascinated by the changes we see in our children as they grow; physically and psychologically. In what seems like the blink of an eye they go from infancy to adolescence, and the Miraculous Transformation starts the moment they are born. We revel in their first smiles, coos, and finger grasps. They are truly remarkable! They continue to amaze us with their unfolding development; eventually holding up their heads, rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking. Language and mobility are definite game changers to parenting, and we figure out how to fill our toddlers’ worlds with opportunities to learn and explore. With this new level of independence comes a new level of risk, and we establish boundaries and rules for safety and civility. “Don’t touch the stove.” “Say please when you ask for something.” This type of responsive parenting tends to come to us naturally, stemming from eons of evolution-shaped strategies to keep our kin (and species) connected and alive. Early on we integrate these developmental milestones into our parenting routines without much upheaval.

And then along comes adolescence, and everything changes. The middle school and high school years are rough, on kids and parents. … Continue reading..