Dear Dr. Marnee, I hope this note finds you well. I'm reaching out about my daughter, who loves the idea of sleepovers with her friends but struggles to stay the night. Every time she goes, we get a call in the middle of the night asking to come home because she can't...

Hello all. As a clinical psychologist and mom myself, I can confidently say this: if you’re a parent who feels perpetually exhausted, you’re definitely not alone. Whether your child is a baby, a preschooler, is school aged, a teen, or even a college student (wink,...

Happy Monday, all! As you all know, I am the mom of two boys. What you may not know is that they are less than two years apart- yep, those early years were busy. In my family of origin, I am the oldest of three children. And, as a clinical psychologist, I've seen how...

Happy Summer all! Now that July has begun and the 4th of July holiday is right around the corner, it might be a good time to consider why we celebrate this holiday and what we can share about it with our children during these political times. Why do we celebrate it at...

Dear Dr. Marnee, I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to seek your advice regarding a concern I have with my child's eating habits. My child, XXXX, is a very restrictive and picky eater. This has been an ongoing issue despite my best efforts. XXXX only...

Happy Mid-Summer Monday! As you know, I am excited about kids and parenting. I love the abundant possibilities and opportunities that are presented each day with our kids. As parents, fostering a positive and resilient attitude in our children is crucial for their...

I recently talked with a friend who was on the verge of tears about her current situation. She waited to get married and have children later than her parents did. No judgment, just the facts. These facts place her in a common position of having parents who have needs...

Now that summer is halfway over, plus or minus, I have been hearing from families that they are struggling with the unstructured nature of summer. I get it, and I totally acknowledge that in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, finding activities that bring...

It is that time again. Summer is done or drawing to a close, and the school bells begin to ring again. Many parents find themselves grappling with a familiar feeling—the back-to-school jitters. But let’s be honest, it’s not just the kids who get a case of the...

I recently spoke with a family about their child and her hyper-competitiveness- well, that is how they explained the behavior they were concerned about. In our brief discussion, we discussed that competition is everywhere—from classrooms to sports fields and even in...

Moms are often seen as the superheroes of the household—juggling work, kids, and endless to-do lists with seemingly effortless grace. But behind the scenes, many mothers struggle with a silent burden: The difficulty of asking for and accepting help. This reluctance...

Happy Monday my fellow parents! As you all know I love being a parent and I love helping parents!!!! As parents, we often find ourselves stuck in routines that may not always serve our family's best interests. That’s where a 40-Day Parenting Change Challenge comes...

Hello fabulous parents and Happy Monday! As a child psychologist and parenting expert, mom of 2, and auntie to 5.... one of the most wonderful things I witness is children's natural curiosity. Their endless stream of "why?" questions may sometimes feel overwhelming...

Helloooooo my lovely community. I had plans to write on a totally different topic today, but life provided a different topic. So, last night, our family went through a bit of a scare when our puppy, Harley, just 15 months old, had to spend a few hours at the emergency...

Happy Monday, all. By now, you know that I adore children and the ever-changing fun of parenting as well. I have recently had the opportunity to consult with two families with precocious children. We've all met those children who seem wise beyond their years—kids who...

As a child psychologist, one of the things I often remind parents is how vital it is to let children experiment, explore, and be creative—yes, even when it means a messy kitchen or a garden full of "potions!" I heard a delightful story, at least to me, about potions...

Happy Monday, my fellow fabulous parents. This past weekend, I had a ton of fun at a recent 9-year-old birthday party. However, a revealing moment occurred. The helper at a really fun birthday party venue announced, "Ok girls, we are going to make chocolate!" One of...

Happy Monday, my fellow fabulous parents. I enjoy watching kids joyfully walk throughout the supermarket with their mismatched socks and tutus on. Or the costume to the pet store.... As parents, we often want to guide our children in everything they do, including how...

Good morning, fellow parents! Today, I want to share with you the power of joyful reunions and why your greeting matters to your child. As a clinical psychologist, I see firsthand how small moments in our daily lives can have a huge impact on our children. As a mom of...

You all know that I love parenting!      However, we often get frustrated when our kids have tantrums or big feelings and can not pull themselves together. How do we help our kids learn to regulate their emotional experiences better? Our ability to regulate our...

A little-known piece of information about me: I entered my doctoral program with a research interest in Fathering. This interest was born (lol) out of the special relationship that fathers and father figures have in the lives of the children they are a part of....

I am feeling sappy. The school year has ended, the business has changed, and now is a great time to reflect on the countless challenges and joys accompanying each school year. I have been on a mission to love my boys more deeply (see, sappy). Among the most crucial...

Hi All, my name is Dr. Marnee, I am a mom of 2-boys, and I am guilty of saying this phrase: "Do your best."  "Do your best" is often said with the best of intentions. It sounds supportive, encouraging, and motivating. But for many children, these three words can...

When Parents Share Too Much About Their Kids on Social Media Ah, social media – the digital scrapbook of our lives. It's where we share our joys, our sorrows, and everything in between. We scroll through, comment, like, and so on for things shared by others. And for...

This past week, I was in a session with a parent whose child (in their early 20s) is struggling with all that comes with humanhood. My goal was to highlight with this parent a way to gain connection rather than directing their child with "shoulds."  As parents, we all...

Fun fact about me: give me kids or dogs (I am allergic to cats), and I will take great care of them- plants, well, let's just say that I do not have a green thumb, lol. I have had dogs all of my life- labs or golden retrievers. We even had an indoor-outdoor cat named...

I was recently consulting with a family who reported something I had heard over and for many years in private practice: My child acts like an angel at School or when at a friend's house, but it is a hot mess for me. I tried to explain that School can provide joy,...

Children have a remarkable ability to cut through the noise of polite conversation with their unashamed honesty. From pointing out physical flaws to asking uncomfortable questions, their unfiltered remarks can leave adults feeling equal parts amused and embarrassed. ...

I recently participated in a virtual talk about birth order. One of the themes of firstborns was their high-functioning tendencies and possible perfectionism. I am not a fan of all or nothing at all kind of thinking, and perfectionism is one of those.  Perfectionism...

Have you ever wondered why children and adolescents lie? A secret about me- I am a terrible liar. Ask anyone who really knows me, and they will agree. Have you ever caught your child telling a fib? Or perhaps you’ve witnessed your teenager bending the truth to get out...

I recently met a woman, my senior, who had the most beautiful color eyes- like the color of the ocean close to the beach's shoreline. I said to her: "You must be sick of people telling you how beautiful your eyes are." She responded: "These old eyes haven't been...

I recently had the pleasure, for real, of spending time with all three of my nieces. The experience that prompted me to write this piece was the time spent with my sister's girls, ages 5 and 8. This is not about them but about the people I observed while on our trip...

Hey there, lovely people. Today, let’s think about creating healthy relationships and fostering emotional intelligence: the difference between teaching behavioral control and emotional control. Picture this: You're at a bustling playground, watching kids run around,...

The answer is found when we strike a balance between support & autonomy. Wednesday night's conversation flew by and there were several questions that I did not get to. Let's discuss one of these today: Should we let children fail? Can you guess my answer? Yep, you...

Back story-My second son plays high school hockey and I love it.  We drive together to each game which means I am at the rink 45 minutes or so before puck drop.   Recently, I ran into an old friend who I hardly see anymore due to his divorce.  (I got the wife in the...

This past Friday I had the unfortunate experience of attending a funeral of a long-time friend. We met when I was a freshman in high school and she was a sophomore. She was warm, funny, full of smiles, and vibrant. We lost touch over the years and reconnected at...

Dear Dr. Marnee,   I am a busy parent of 3 terrific kids. Who isn't busy?!?!  I am reaching out because I need advice. Whenever the kids get in the car at the end of their day or when we reunite at home, I ask how their day was.  I get the following kind of responses...

Ok, people, we've all been there – the moment when stress seems to ooze into every facet of our lives, leaving us shouting, "I am all stressed out." It's a phrase that has become commonplace in today's fast-paced world, often used to express the overwhelming pressures...

Hello fellow parents! If you've ever found yourself wondering why your child or teen sometimes chooses to be a bit, well..., selective with the truth, you're not alone. I recently had a session with a parent and this topic filled our time quickly. Let's walk into the...

I was recently in a social situation where some moms (and a grandmom), were discussing screen time for their kids. The takeaways from the conversation were the following: some felt guilty and judged for allowing their kids to be on screens for their convenience's sake...

Hi- My name is Marnee and I am a recovering juggler. Not the kind of juggler of balls or pins, but of tasks. Here is what happened that enlightened me as to why I needed to reform my ways. You see I was rushing to get back to the office on a chilly afternoon (yes,...

Dear all, I had an interesting session today that focused on gratitude. A parent was voicing displeasure about their child not showing gratitude for what they have and/or the sacrifices that these parents make for their children. So, I began to probe about the...

I can't stand it when I hear "You get what you get and you don't get upset." Really, why? Why can't we get upset? What is wrong with feeling disappointment? Stay with me and I will explain why I feel the way I do about this very used phrase. In a world that often...

Hi friends, I had a fun conversation with a friend's mom the other day. She is a fabulous grandmother of two high school students whom I also know through my synagogue. She said, "I thought you were an adolescent specialist!" She shared that she had learned about my...

Happy Tuesday! Yep, it is Tuesday and I usually write on Monday. So what happened: the Juggle. Sometimes life can become a breeding ground for stress, especially when attempting to juggle the demands of work, parenting, relationships, and self-care. We are supposed to...

STRESS!!!! I received a request to address this question in a recent email, so here goes. Dear Dr. Marnee, How do we know if our kids and teens are stressed beyond the typical levels? Looking for Guidance. Dear Looking for Guidance, As parents, we so much want to see...

Hello, my fellow fabulous parents! As we all know, children are like sponges, soaking up experiences and learning from the world around them. You know the saying: You live what you learn and you learn what you live. Well, the patterns that develop in childhood often...

If you were around my house when my children were young you would have heard me say this phrase. Yep, that is right: Get Out of My House! The purpose of this statement was to have my boys, with or without friends over, to have unstructured play. In this day and age,...

As a busy, single mom of two boys in their upper teens, I can say that time flies. I have never liked the saying: Bigger kids, Bigger problems. I think it minimizes the experiences of parents of children younger rather than showing compassion for their situation. All...

So, we are several weeks into the new school year and you are having concerns about your child's social adjustment...this is to be expected. Good news- here are 5 steps parents can take to help their child, whether it be in preschool or college, thrive in school. 1)...

Hello, wonderful parents and caregivers! As we all know, children are like sponges, soaking up experiences and learning from everything around them. The patterns they develop in childhood often become the foundation for their young adult years. So, how can you, as...

Dear Dr. Marnee, I hope you can offer me guidance because I'm feeling torn and don't know what to do. I have a wonderful, smart, and caring kid, and I couldn't be prouder of the person they're becoming. However, I'm having a really tough time with some of their...

Recently I was fired from one of the families I was working with. What happened, you are probably wondering? Well, we firmly disagreed on parenting styles and their effectiveness. Actually, the mom seemed relieved that the conversation was happening until the dad...

I said this phrase across the table over a sushi lunch with a dear friend. I was talking to her. Yes, you got it. There were only two of us at the table and I raised my voice a bit and spoke harshly to her and said: Don't talk to my friend like that! I was not being...