Celebrate Positive Parenting Awareness Month this January. Learn about the five principles of positive parenting and resources available in Santa Cruz County.
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Your Presence is the Best Present
Discover how presence, not presents, is the best gift for children. Learn parenting tips on setting expectations, communicating effectively, and fostering independence and self-esteem.
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Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Some days, I get so caught up in work, chores, and the busyness of everyday life that I forget to slow down and really notice the little things. Watching my daughter play, hearing her laugh at something silly, or seeing sunlight spill across the living room—these small moments often pass by before I even register them. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to pause more often: to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, savor a quiet cup of coffee, or simply take a deep breath. Doing this reminds me how much there is to be grateful for, and how much richer life feels when I slow down…
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Power Of Setting Limits
Parents naturally want to make their kids happy—we love them so much, it’s natural to want to give them the world. But balancing that desire with the need to set clear, consistent boundaries isn’t always easy. I know for myself, I often wonder: are we being too soft? Too strict? Finding that “just right” middle ground can be a real challenge. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is helping raise children, based on the world- renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, email me at [email protected]. Dear Yesenia, I’m a…
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Navigating the Ups and Downs of Friendships
We’ve all experienced friendship fallouts one way or another, whether as kids or adults. As I see my daughter forming friendships at preschool, I see how joyful and full of promised those early connections can be. And I also know as she grows, those relationships will become more complex. It is a daunting thought at times, knowing I won’t always be able to protect her from the heartaches that come with friendships. Still, I remind myself that what I can do is help build a strong emotional foundation. And I will do my best to teach her tools to handle the ups and downs of her social relationships – and…
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Tips for Dads and Father Figures
Every day, I watch my husband create special memories with our daughter. From playing pretend, singing songs, or going on little adventures of their own, I see their bond growing (as well as a very similar sense of humor). As she experiences big emotions, his calmness brings her comfort, makes her feel seen and loved. The other day, I overheard them while building a toy kitchen together. He guided her through each step, giving her small tasks to do. She was completely engaged, proudly helping him along the way. And then, with a full heart, I heard her say, “Papa, I love you so much.” It’s in those simple, everyday…
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Your Mental Health Matters
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s also a time when we celebrate our mothers, grandmas, aunties, and other mother figures. Motherhood is a transformative and profound journey — it changes you in such a deep way, and yet we often don’t acknowledge how hard that can be. I’ve struggled with my own mental health throughout my life, and becoming a mother has brought its own set of ups and downs — moments of overwhelm, stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. And yet, motherhood has also been the source of some of the deepest love and joy I’ve ever known. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Motherhood has helped me fall…
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Little Changes, Lasting Impact
April is the Month of the Young Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is a good opportunity to remind ourselves that 1) raising happy, healthy children is both exhausting and rewarding, 2) every parent struggles, feels unprepared, or worries they’ve failed at parenting at some point, and 3) everyone in the community can play a role in making sure children and families have the resources and support needed to thrive. This monthly article provides tips for families raising children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email…
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Parenting During Uncertain Times
So much has happened this year already – how is it already March, and yet, how is it only just March? The news these days can be overwhelming and, at times, heart-wrenching. In these uncertain times, it is no wonder that we’re all experiencing such a wide range of emotions, from overwhelm, sadness, worry to anger, anxiety and fear. It’s easy to feel emotionally drained, like we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. As parents, we are juggling our own mental well-being and supporting our children through their confusion and worries. Many of us are finding it difficult to talk to our children about what is…
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Celebrating Love with Simple Acts
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I love that we have a holiday dedicated to showing the people we care about how much we love and cherish them! As my daughter grows and begins to understand the holidays more, we want to create family traditions with her that make her feel loved. For us, we like to show love with random acts of kindness—like my husband brewing coffee in the morning, handling the grocery runs (which I don’t enjoy), or sending a thoughtful message. It’s making dinner, eating together, sharing our day, offering cuddles, building pillow forts, and dancing together. There are so many ways to show love and celebrate…
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Celebrating YOU During Positive Parenting Awareness Month
Dear parents, foster parents, grandparents, relative caregivers, and other adults raising children and teens: we’re celebrating YOU in January 2025! For the 13th year in a row the County Board of Supervisors has partnered with First 5 Santa Cruz County to declare January as Positive Parenting Awareness Month, joining other California counties and the California legislature, which will pass a resolution declaring January 2025 as Positive Parenting Awareness Month across the state. What does this mean? It means that local and state elected officials recognize that positive parenting is vital to the current and future well-being of children, families, and the entire community. It means that across the state, we’re…
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Building Healthy Sleep Habits
Isn’t sleep just the best? I definitely love it! As a parent, though, you quickly learn that the blissful slumber you once took for granted becomes a distant memory. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m far more enjoyable after a good night’s rest. Over the years, we’ve created a bedtime routine that’s been helpful. My daughter is only two, so I’m bracing myself for more nighttime wakeups. But even though we’re not quite back to uninterrupted sleep, I enjoy the nights we do get some quality rest and find comfort in knowing I’ve got a few strategies to help us through bedtime. Here’s to embracing the sleep deprivation…
