Posts by Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker
Talking with Kids of All Ages about Tragedy
As a parent, how do you explain an event as tragic as the Connecticut school shooting to a child, when you can hardly make sense of it yourself? All of…
Read MoreTalking with Your Teen
Banging your head against a brick wall may feel like a welcome relief after trying to get a response to the question, “How was your day?” from your teenager. While…
Read MoreCommon Communication Pitfalls
We’ve all experienced that moment: Open mouth. Insert foot. “Why did I SAY that?!”. Most of the time, we recognize when we’ve said something hurtful, harsh, or untrue. We are…
Read MoreThe Language of Play
Among young children, play is not only a form of entertainment, but a source of expression for feelings and thoughts, a mode of learning, and an important aspect of healthy…
Read MoreResponding to Insensitive Adoption Questions
The adoption experience may lead you to feel like you and your family members are part of an exclusive “club” – one which many people find mysterious and fascinating, and…
Read MoreFeeling Part of Extended Family
Everyone on my mom’s side of the family has the same nose – the “Foster” nose. I always noticed this as a child, how similar they looked. Mostly, I think…
Read MoreTalking About Birth Parents and Identity
Talking with your child about his or her birth parents can be a delicate topic. You may know a lot about your child’s history, or nothing at all. You may…
Read MoreTalking to Your Child about Adoption
As an adoptive parent, it may seem intimidating to talk to your child about being adopted. The good news is, your child ISN’T intimidated by this talk, and you don’t…
Read MoreJust Six Billion Peas in a Pod
We often focus on one another’s differences, on the traits and behaviors we do not understand about someone else. This fuels bullying behaviors, often allowing a person to justify or…
Read MoreIf It Is a Priority We Fix It
We are a society of achievers. We strive to create, invent, solve and cure. We are always looking for ways to make things quicker and more efficient. Most of our…
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