Author Archives: Gerry Vassar

What Life Is Like When Your Child Is Mentally Ill

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Gerry Vassar

We are focusing on mental illness in children. Rather than talk about mental illness from a parent’s perspective, I thought that a repost of Chrisa Hickey’s story of a “Mom who has lived the story with her own child” would be appropriate for … Continue reading →

How to Encourage Discipline in Children: Principle #7d

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Gerry Vassar

We have been focusing our discussions on how to help our children self-regulate by using effective discipline strategies. We have also been discussing the seventh principle which is to “avoid discipline struggles whenever possible.” One final way we can avoid these struggles is … Continue reading →

Families of the Wounded Fund – Support for Wounded Veterans

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Gerry Vassar

I was privileged this past weekend to attend an extraordinary event, the Families of the Wounded Fund. It honored wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, held at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.

9 Ways to Encourage Self-Esteem in Children

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Gerry Vassar

How can we create positive self-esteem in our children?  There are some very well researched principles that consistently encourage self-esteem in children.  In fact, research tells us that positive self-esteem has a significant effect on a child’s development and sets … Continue reading →