Many people find Thanksgiving to be one of their favorite holidays. It’s simple, no gifts to buy, no fuss. It’s just family and friends coming together with a recognition that we have a lot to be thankful for.
I imagine many of us try to keep that sentiment of thankfulness at the forefront of our minds and would prefer our kids do as well. However, do we find that, at times, our kids don’t seem so thankful? They have less than a strong sense of gratitude. Ironically, the more you do for your kids, the less thankful they may seem.
It’s sort of a trap. We love our kids so much and want them to be happy and content. At the same time, we live in the most prosperous and affluent country in the history of the world, so we have ample opportunity to give our kids lots of stuff.
So what transpires? As we give them more, we find that they tend to expect more. There comes a sense of entitlement and more expectation as opposed to a gracious and genuine “thank you!!”
Yes, it’s true, and clearly evidenced in our daily lives. The more someone gets, often the less gracious they become. Moreover, the lower the expectations to be able to obtain items (don’t have to work for it), the higher a child’s sense of entitlement.
People who feel entitled and come to expect things without a strong sense of gratitude are typically unhappy people. In that respect, gratitude is a barometer for happiness. The more gratitude a person feels in life, the happier they are going to be. It’s hard to be happy when you ‘expect’ more, and aren’t happy with what you already have.
Here are some ideas:
In that respect, we don’t give a child everything for which they ask. Remember the old adage: “give a child everything they need, but very little of what they want.” (who said that?)
This can be through an allowance, and they can save their money. It's worth considering that there are two different sets of chores in any home; those chores that are done because we all live together and have to pitch in to run the household, such as cleaning one’s room, emptying the garbage, running the sweeper… and those chores that may be considered ‘above and beyond’ for which an allowance will be considered: such as raking leaves, pulling weeds, shoveling snow, washing the car, cleaning windows… for younger kids, the list of chores for which an allowance will be allotted may be a bit longer, but as a child gets older, that list will get smaller so it will be harder to earn an allowance.
Local churches have myriad opportunities for this type of service, and in that respect, we can sign up our kids (and we go along) to volunteer at a shelter (with direct parent oversight), at the Goodwill, or go on a mission’s trip. This offers an opportunity to give back, see how good they have it, and see firsthand how others are living.
We make sure that, weekly, they write down all the things for which they are grateful. Also, it is good to get them in the habit of writing well-thought-out and gracious thank you cards for any gift they receive.
Get your kiddo to church, synagogue, or temple (wherever you worship). at least once if not twice a week. Most churches have a kid’s program that also meets Wednesday evenings). If a church is doing its job, the preacher(s) are teaching about gratitude, thankfulness, self-sacrifice, the 10th Commandment (okay, I’ll give you a hint – that one about not-coveting and, rather, being happy with what God's given you), love, patience, humility, being meek, and caring for others. Can you think of better messages for our children?
Okay, so I know what you’re thinking. It’s too late. That’s water under the bridge – your child is already an over-indulged tyrant who is running the household. Well, even in that seemingly dire situation, it’s not too late. You may need to take it a bit slower, but you can do it!! Follow the pointers above and, slowly but surely, things will begin to change. Your child will not be happy as you begin this process, they will fuss and try to wear you down. If you need help and guidance along the way, and maybe some moral support, that’s what I’m here for (and your local church with help from the Children’s Pastor). If you want to make a change in the direction of enhancing gratitude, you have to start sometime. How about today?
Here is wishing you and yours a relaxing and delightful Thanksgiving Holiday with your family and friends, and with your ever-increasingly grateful children. 😊 God bless you.
There is a formula for child discipline. If you follow the recipe, the outcome is very predictable in a positive way. Children expect parents to behave in a particular manner; when they do, they tend to respond accordingly in terms of being more manageable, respectful, calmer, and grateful. When parents don’t follow the recipe, children also tend to respond accordingly, but with belligerence, a sense of entitlement, being more confrontational, and being stronger-willed.
Your relationship with your child is the foundation to, well, just about everything you want to accomplish. In the absence of a good relationship, discipline and behavior will suffer. Once that is established, you can move toward the following step-by-step approach to improve the child's behavior.
Beyond any simple step or formula, the most important element of a well-behaved child is the relationship. It’s vital to remember that discipline is based on the word “disciple,” which is a willing and devoted follower. For instance, we want our kids to follow out of respect and a sense of camaraderie, not a fear of punishment. We accomplish that by building up the relationship with our child. How do we do this?
You can read the interactive eBook and view the many informative videos on my Substack!
For more parenting resources or to set an appointment, check out the Community Psychiatric Centers' website. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions at DrCarosso@aol.com.
Dr. John Carosso's ebook: ABA in a Parent-Friendly Format.
Dr. John Carosso's ebook - How We Treat Series: Depression and Anxiety, Autism, ADHD, and Emotional Outbursts.
Dr. Carosso’s eBook: The Most Common Discipline Methods Don’t Work: Here’s Why and How to Make them Work
Dr. Carosso’s eBook: The ADHD Diagnosis, Severity Level, and Treatment Options
By Teresa Gretencord, Reading Specialist at the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center
Teresa Gretencord is an experienced and Certified Reading Specialist at the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center. She wrote this post providing simple and fun activities to help your child sound out words, which is the basis for spelling skills. Teresa offers Reading Therapy sessions online, and you can schedule a session with Teresa at DyslexiaTreaters.com.
Ahh, the dreaded spelling test! Does your child struggle to hear individual sounds and phonemes in words? This is a common problem for students who struggle with reading and especially those identified with dyslexia. Keep in mind this won’t work for every word, but it will help with those spelling patterns that many spellings tests contain. Also, once your child practices and learns the spelling pattern, there is no more just memorizing for the test. This away the need to memorize words because we have a rule and a pattern that is predictable!
Oral language is a huge piece of this puzzle. We call this phonemic awareness. Try giving your child a word like “bat.” Have your child say each sound in the word while moving their hand in a roller coaster motion saying /b/ at the bottom, /a/ at the top and bringing their arm down and saying /t/.
Have your child practice breaking words into syllables. Say words like “teacher” and have them respond with teach-er, “fantastic”= fan-tas-tic, and “vacation”= va-ca-tion.
In Orton-Gillingham, we use something called “pound and tap” when writing unknown words. Our brains are wired to be able to hear 3 or 4 sounds at a time. Every decodable word can be broken into syllables and each syllable will consist of 3 or 4 sounds. This makes spelling long words manageable.
When students do sound out the word, they pound the syllable and then tap the sounds in that syllable. For example, the word “Titanic” would be broken up into the syllables Ti-tan-ic. This enables children to hear all of the sounds in the syllables. This is also useful if your child misses middle parts or sounds in words.
What kiddo doesn’t love these poppits? They are the new craze and honestly, they are quite fun. So, let’s engage kiddos and get some learning in as well! These are great for spelling practice.
They can be used in the same way as the pound and tap hands. Have the child say a syllable of the word, pop out the sounds for that syllable, write those sounds and move on to the next syllable! Learning should always be fun!!!
So there you have it, four simple and fun ways to promote your child’s ability to sound out and spell words. At the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center, we can also offer direct, online support at a very reasonable cost. Check us out at DyslexiaTreaters.com. Happy spelling!!
Our goal at CPC is to provide a wide array of treatment options to help children reach their fullest potential. To that end, we offer social skills groups that help children learn better ways to make and keep friends. Children with autism can present as delightful and endearing, but sometimes don’t know what to do in order to maintain a social encounter. Our social group aims to greatly improve that problem. It’s also evident that children with ADHD tend to be somewhat impulsive and, at times, may do and say things that other children find off-putting. Again, our social skills group targets and remediates those tendencies.
We offer a weekly group at our Monroeville office that currently meets every Tuesday from 5:15 to 6:45 PM both in-person and virtually. The children in the current group are between 9-12 years of age, but we will broaden the age range and offer additional days and times as more children enroll.
CPC is excited to offer a newly forming ADHD support group that will be run out of our Wilkinsburg office, in-person and virtually. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and occasionally struggles with friendship skills, please consider contacting our office.
At the same time as the Social Skills Group, we offer a Parent Support Group. While their child is in their group, parents can get together and support one another. They can get their questions answered, and learn from one another and the group leader (that would be me 😊). We serve refreshments.
Feel free to email me directly at jcarosso@cpcwecare.com and we’ll get the enrollment process started.
Happy socializing 😊
It’s closing in on that ‘back to school’ time of year. Yes, it is sad to see August slipping by, and it’s time to start thinking about getting back into the school schedule. It can be a difficult transition for children to get back into that routine, with some kids dreading the end of summer.
Need I mention the difference between summer and school-year routines? Sometimes gently transitioning into that schedule can help. If you start about 2-3 weeks out, it’s much easier to ship your kids into shape. Otherwise, it’s a culture shock for your child and not too pleasant for you either. Below are some tips that are especially helpful for parents of children with autism but can apply to all kiddos.
1. First, begin slowly adjusting routines for an earlier bedtime.
2. Incorporate lengthier study and quiet reading sessions throughout the day and week. This could include anything even remotely academic.
3. Visit the school playground more frequently to promote your child becoming more comfortable with being at school, and on the school grounds. This is especially important if your kiddo has any anxiety issues.
4. Arrange playdates with school friends/acquaintances not seen for most of the summer, especially those kids who will be in your child’s class or grade.
5. If you can arrange a visit to the classroom and meet the teacher, so much the better.
6. It can be helpful to color-code school supplies (notebooks, file folders…). Integrate material color with a picture schedule.
7. Purchase school clothes early, wash them a few times, cut off tags, and make sure your child is comfortable with them well in advance. Therefore, they can be a 'familiar' aspect of the school routine.
8. In Addition, pick out a “cool” outfit for the first day and get a fresh haircut (first impressions are important).
10. Prepare the school with emergency contacts and any dietary issues. Moreover, you can prepare the teacher, aide, Guidance Counselor, ‘specials’ teachers, cafeteria workers, and anybody else who will listen for what to expect and how to effectively intervene if necessary.
11. Don’t forget to say a prayer with your kids before they venture off to school; they find that comforting and reassuring.
12. It may be helpful to write an "all about me" card for the teacher. This is a simple and fun way to let the classroom teacher know about your child. For example, such a card can communicate fun tidbits about your child, their interests, and preferences. Any special needs would be more formally presented during a meeting with the teacher and documented in an IEP or 504 plan.
God bless and enjoy the rest of the summer.
You might now know it, but our library of parent resources extends beyond the helpful articles I share here. If you check out cpcwecare.com you’ll see our Parent Resource section, and the archives of our CPC Presents television shows. The Resource section has many helpful links to information. The information covers autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, eating disorders, OCD, bio-medical interventions, dietary restrictions, Conduct Disorder, and information about support groups. Our CPC Presents program, hosted by Dr. Lowenstein, M.D. and I, ran for over three years on Channel 11’s PCNC. The archives on include 27 shows covering just about every childhood issue one can fathom including video game addiction, selective mutism, teenage cutting, ADHD, chronic hair pulling, and Tourette’s.
Are you looking for more information right now? You're in luck! On this site, you’ll find literally hundreds of posts and videos covering vexing childhood issues. Moreover, there is a Parent Resources tab that provides information about the facts and fallacies regarding ADHD, encopresis, ODD, a link to my book “The 5 Most Challenging Childhood Behavioral Health Issues of Our Day ”, as well as our “CPC Answer Series” on medication, autism, attachment disorder, ADHD and executive functioning, Dyslexia, Managing Your Child’s Public Behavior, Toilet Training, and a description of in-home and in-school services (formerly known as “wraparound services”).
Our goal is to provide useful and practical information in a convenient and easy-to-use format. We trust you’ll find just that at these two sites. While you’re at it, check out DyslexiaTreaters.com to learn more about dyslexia and AutismCenterofPittsburgh.com where there are a ton of autism resources, videos, and our interesting Q/A section.
Happy reading (and watching), and may God bless you and your family. Have a wonderful rest of your summer.
We talk a lot about dyslexia, or the difficulty with decoding or sounding out words. It’s obvious that any child struggling to decode individual words is going to have trouble with reading comprehension. In that respect, it’s difficult to ascertain what a passage is attempting to convey if one cannot read a portion of the words in that passage. In that instance, we target the child’s ability to decode words and, as that skill improves, so does the reading comprehension. However, some children actually read fairly well, but still struggle with reading comprehension; today’s post targets those children and that difficulty.
Once we rule out dyslexia, the next most common issue causing problems with reading comprehension is lack of attention. In that regard, children with ADHD tend to struggle with reading comprehension because, while reading, they lose focus and consequently don’t capture the information the passage is attempting to convey.
We target the attention problem issue. In doing so, we assess the length of time before attention begins to wane, use a timer, and break down the task into smaller segments to promote attention. Keep the work environment distraction-free, and summarize each paragraph before moving on to the next.
Improving one’s vocabulary, or the understanding of what words mean, is surprisingly fun and simple, gives a sense of satisfaction as your child learns the meaning and how to use new words, and is immeasurably helpful and instrumental in improving reading comprehension. In that respect, if one does not know what the words mean, then reading comprehension is going to suffer.
You can easily go online and download a list of grade-appropriate vocabulary words and simply begin the review. It’s actually fun to memorize the meaning of words; you can make a game of it. However, remember that one does not know the meaning of any word until one can explain what the word means without using the word in the explanation.
Use reading material your child finds to be fun and engaging. After each paragraph or page, ask for a quick re-cap; practice makes perfect. Start with material that is below-grade-level and work upwards. Sometimes reading aloud is helpful.
It’s often helpful to read chapter questions (at the end of the chapter in a textbook) before reading the chapter, which gives clues regarding the chapter content and helps to focus on important elements of the story. Or, a parent can pre-read the passage, make up questions, and present the questions before the child begins reading. Also, scan ahead to see the paragraph headings, graphics, and any clues and cues that provide a sense of the chapter content. Underline key words and phrases that often include names, dates, locations, facts, and figures.
Those are a few tips for improving reading comprehension skills. Please note that we’re available to help at the Dyslexia Diagnostic & Treatment Center where we help with reading problems including sounding out words and comprehending the reading material. If you think your child might be suffering from dyslexia, call 1 (724) 850-7200, or email me to set up or an evaluation. Or if you have any questions, feel free to email me at jcarosso@dyslexiatreaters.com. Happy reading!!
The Fourth commemorates the unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, by the second Continental Congress in 1776. This declaration culminated in our revolutionary war that ended in 1783. It was then that Britain recognized the United States as an independent and sovereign country. 😊
We want our kids to know our history, and how we ‘came to be.’ However, there’s more. The same principles on which our country was founded are the same characteristics we want to develop in our children.
Here is a run-down of those principles:
A primary goal of the American revolution was the pursuit of liberty. As was so eloquently phrased, “We hold these truths self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty is different than freedom, with the former comes a measure of personal accountability and responsibility. Above all, our Founders strongly believed that with liberty, comes personal accountability. You want to instill those same values in your children – we have unimaginable freedoms in our everyday life, but we also have a responsibility to our family and fellow citizens and should expect to be held accountable for our actions.
Another founding principle is that we all have moral worth, and each should be valued to make one’s own decisions. This is accompanied by the principle of individualism; we are individuals apart from the collective and each has to make his or her own way in life. Yes, we have an obligation to behave morally and help our fellow citizens when we can, but each of us is responsible for our own well-being. We make our own decisions and therefore take responsibility for the outcomes, good or bad, and expect to be accountable for those decisions. It would behoove us to raise our children with this understanding and appreciation, which will serve them well into adulthood.
Appealing to Virtue, a Higher Power, and Morality
Our Founding Fathers believed that the ability to govern ourselves rests with our individual and collective virtue (or moral character). This virtue stems from a Higher Power, or God, from Whom originate our rights. As was written by John Adams, “it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.” We want our children to stand firm in the knowledge that without a strong sense of morality, a firm sense of ‘right and wrong’, based on a Power Who stands above us, we will fail on a personal level and as a society.
Our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution allowed for growth and a trend toward improvement as a society. The concept that ‘all men are created equal’ was among our founding principles. It provided a foundation that compelled our country in the direction of increasing freedom and equality. Has not the United States trended in the direction of increased inclusiveness and is a far different place than in the 1700s? How about compared to the 1800s? In addition, how have we grown as a nation since the 1950s? What about over the past decade? Is there any other country as diverse as the United States that has progressed as much and as quickly? Is there any other diverse country that is freer and with as much opportunity for all? If so, which country is that? – I suppose we’ll all move there.
We want our children to know that this unique and very special country has made immeasurable progress in a remarkably brief time. You want your kids to know that they too, as individuals, are expected to learn from their mistakes. They are expected to grow and mature, learn and evolve. Above all, they should aspire to become something better, and make their community better.
I hope you had a fun and relaxing Independence Day as you had cookouts with family and pondered the remarkable aspects of our country. I wish you the very best in your ongoing pursuit of teaching your kids these founding principles and helping them to live out these aspirations on a daily basis. If you need any help along the way, never hesitate to reach out; you can find out more at HelpForYourChild.com. May God bless you and your children, and this wonderful country in which we live.
Public outings with your child can be quite challenging and demanding, and there tend to be more excursions over summer vacation. Children sometimes find the new environment, whether it be a store or amusement park, to be over-stimulating, and want to carry out the outing ‘on their terms’ rather than on yours. However, if you make a plan in advance, there are some strategies to improve the situation and make the outing more tolerable, if not more pleasant.
Just like anything else, behavior during an outing is a skill that is learned over time. Role-play at home (set-up a mock store or restaurant). Start with short stints, then increase exposure. Quick daily outings (in and out, but longer over time) are better than long trips at first. For example: a brief trip to a local deli, then to a restaurant…
Outline an explanation of where you are going, expectations for behavior, and the rewards (or consequences) if things go well, or not so well. Make sure your child understands what your (achievable) expectations are.
What will happen during the trip, where you’ll be going, what they will do (park, walk, go to a particular store, ride in a cart, take a snack break, ride or not ride certain rides at a park…) and how long it will take? Show photos ahead of time of where you’re going, if possible. Remind them of what part you are at during the excursion, and what comes next. A picture schedule can be very helpful.
Holding an adult’s hand, stay close, etc. Frequently tell them how they’re doing and offer tons of praise and give little tokens for good behavior whenever you see good behavior, or every so often during the outing. They can trade in the tokens for desired items.
Ask questions! If shopping, your child can help find items – keep them occupied. You can even give them money to make their own purchases. Bring along favorite toys, food, or familiar item. Have them help plan out the day with you when you put together the outing.
Limit how often, length, and where you shop depending on your child’s tolerance level. Keep trips short, take breaks, and use a stroller. Make sure they are not tired or hungry (either of you). Be careful of your own attitude and fatigue (keep upbeat, happy…). Take along a wish list. If he sees something he can’t have, add it to a wishlist. Share enthusiasm for desired items. Try to avoid tempting places, or keep in small doses.
Sometimes it can feel frustrating, especially if the outings are to somewhere with challenging distractions. Develop ‘Social Stories’ about public outings, and encourage your child’s involvement with the process. Try to prepare with a visual schedule well in advance. Go at off-hours (6-7 PM or early in the AM, or early in the week). Know the store/destination layout in advance (bathrooms, exit, food, water fountain, babysitting, fire extinguishers (that was a joke)…). If possible, have another adult with you, especially if taking multiple kiddos. In certain situations, you can ask a psychologist to prescribe accommodations at an amusement park or similar destination.
Many children find even busy supermarkets to be stimulating, if not over-stimulating. Here are some things to think about if your child tends to get overwhelmed in some environments:
Problem behaviors can be a form of communication. Note the triggers, problem areas, and anything that makes it predictable. If you can predict it, you can prevent it! Some issues to look out for are boredom, overstimulation, hunger, and fatigue (it’s tough for those little legs to keep up).
Behavior management is the key; remain consistent and remember that what works at home, will often work in public as well. Try to be consistent with behavior management in all settings (between home, school, community). Reinforce good behavior (you get what you praise, and be specific in that praise). When misbehavior occurs, intervene and make eye contact as soon as it happens, and then redirect to replacement behavior. Use time-outs in the store, or take a break outside the store. Avoid losing your cool. A time out does not need to be a “punishment” but, rather a quiet moment outside the store to calm.
Here are some tricks to effectively redirect your child to what you want him/her to do, rather than what you don’t want:
Sometimes, when you are in a public place with your child, people find it necessary to put in their ‘two-cents’; especially if your child has a learning or behavioral difficulty. Here are some ways to deal with that frustration:
It’s important to stay safe while having fun excursions together this summer. It's important to remember snacks, sunscreen, & pool floaties, but what else?
I hope these tips prove to be helpful and make your summer outings more fun and enjoyable. Happy Travels!!
We all fully recognize the importance of a mom in a child’s life. Indeed, no one can surpass the love, compassion, caring, empathy, and tenderness of a mother. Dads sometimes can demonstrate those traits, but usually not on par with their female counterparts and, one could argue; that’s not what dads are for anyway. It seems clear that when God devised the family, He delineated very special and specific roles for each member that divinely complement one other to provide a child all that’s necessary to grow in a healthy and well-rounded way.
This post is an open letter to all fathers out there. Please share it with your husband or any male for that matter; to the dads who read these posts: I hope you find it informative. In any case, there are a few things dads need to know, and I aim to tell them. So, here it goes:
I’m not sure you realize just how important you are in your child’s life. You may think your wife picks up the slack, among other things, and that moms are the true nurturing force, and you may be right about that. However, your role is invaluable and irreplaceable.
In fact, your presence in your child’s life makes all the difference in the world for your child. For example, did you know that your engagement in your kid’s life results in your child being more engaged in school (almost 50% more likely to earn better grades and the same percentage less likely to repeat a grade; 60% less likely to get in trouble at school or drop-out, and twice as likely to go to college), are more likely to stay out of trouble (80% less likely to spend time in jail!!!), avoid high-risk behaviors, and to hold off intimacy with the opposite sex (75% less likely to have a teen birth!!).
As if that’s not powerful enough, it goes even further: your presence and attention results in your child having a much greater chance of becoming a successful adult with a better-paying job and healthier relationships. Incredibly, with you being in your child’s life, your kiddo is more likely to have a higher IQ and be emotionally more stable than otherwise. You probably didn’t know that infants with involved fathers have been found to have higher cognitive scores by one year of age than those without their father’s involvement.
That’s not optimal, but clearly, it’s surmountable. Stay engaged with phone calls, letters (the old-fashion handwritten kind), emails, texts, attending games, regular visitation, and balanced custody arrangements. A child simply knowing their dad cares is huge and is super impactful. However, you gotta realize that there is no substitute for your presence; buying gifts simply won’t cut it, and likely will make the situation worse. It’s very simple; your child wants and needs YOU, not stuff.
Your child likely has a mom, and that’s immeasurably important, but you bring some special things to the table. Think about it: without you, how is your son going to know how a man is supposed to act? In the absence of watching how you treat her mother, how will your daughter know how she should be treated by her husband? Yeah, I know, this may sound stereotyped, but is it untrue? Without you, how will a boy learn to be tough and masculine and, at the same time, a gentleman? Of course, kids without fathers figure it out, but it’s not an easy path and doesn’t come as naturally.
What about my daughter, you ask? Well, you’re no less important to her. There is a general sense that a father’s presence is equally important for son and daughter till puberty; thereafter, your presence helps immeasurably to keep your daughter from being sexually active. Girls with dads in their lives have less of an internal drive to act out sexually, have more self-control, and are generally less inclined to become sexually active at an early age. Daughters with attentive dads learn lots of important things including that they don’t need to be sexual to deserve a male’s attention.
Moreover, your daughter sees you respecting her mother and learns how a woman is supposed to be treated in relationships. Your kids learn, directly from you, about dependability, work ethic, how a man is supposed to handle anger and emotions, and how to care for a family. You also have a profound impact on your child’s spiritual life. You are called to reflect God's fatherhood for your child; and to be a model of strength, leadership, love, faithfulness, grace, and mercy. Moreover, your child will follow your spiritual lead in that respect, which further shows the importance of your influence.
Your job as ‘father’ and ‘dad’ is the best and most challenging of positions. It can be daunting, may seem impossible, and you may feel like you’re failing at times, but staying in the game and ‘being there’ is how you win, and how your child wins.
Okay, so what if you’ve been out of your child’s life? That is a difficult situation. Re-engaging with your child is a worthy pursuit, but rebuilding trust is usually a process and there may be multiple barriers to overcome including some legalities. The process usually begins with writing letters, which can be effective. Remember: it’s very comforting for a child to know that their father cares, even if they don’t have contact. However, there are some situations where re-engagement can be counterproductive and even harmful; it’s important to be sensitive to the history between you and your child. If you’re not sure if or how to proceed, feel free to reach out to me and we can discuss the particulars at DrCarosso@aol.com.
I hope you find this letter to be heartening and inspiring. As a dad myself, I find it important to be reminded of our God-given role and place within the family, our paramount importance for our kids, and the need to strive to be our very best. I commend you for doing the same, and I wish you the best and Godspeed in your effort
