Book a Call

Category: Uncategorized

How to Raise Resilient Kids in an Uncertain World

Parenting today is tougher than ever. When I reached out to parents in various Facebook groups and asked about their biggest parenting concerns, the answers were eye-opening. Many parents shared their struggles, pointing to political and societal uncertainty as a major source of stress. For some in the United States, one word kept coming up: “Trump.” For others, it was the overwhelming news cycle, global conflicts, or an ever-changing world. This resonated deeply with me. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I remember family gatherings filled with heated political debates. The raised voices, tension, and uncertainty left me feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Even as a child, I could sense how stress affected everyone around me. Now, as a parent and a coach, I understand the importance of calm leadership—especially during turbulent times. The truth is, we can’t control the world, but we can control how we show up for our kids. That’s how resilience begins. Why Resilience Matters for Our Kids The world our children are growing up in can feel unpredictable and chaotic. Whether it’s political division, social unrest, or economic challenges, kids notice far more than we think. If we don’t equip them with tools to handle adversity, they risk growing up anxious, fearful, and uncertain. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges. It’s about helping kids learn to navigate difficult situations with confidence, calm, and strength. How to Raise Resilient Kids: 5 Key Steps Here are five proven strategies to help your family build resilience during uncertain times: 1. Create a Safe Space for Calm Conversations Tip: Turn stressful conversations into opportunities for growth and understanding. 2. Focus on Shared Family Values 3. Build Positive Coping Strategies Resilient kids need tools to handle stress. Start with simple habits: Remember: You can’t shield your kids from the world, but you can teach them healthy ways to respond to it. 4. Strengthen Community Connections Inspiration: One of my clients from Ukraine faced unimaginable challenges during the war, yet her strength came from her family, community, and perspective. She inspires me every day. 5. Lead By Example Children are always watching. Your response to challenges teaches them how to handle their own. What We Can Learn From Resilient Communities Research on Blue Zones—regions where people live the longest and healthiest lives—offers valuable lessons in resilience. These communities have faced wars, famine, and hardships yet continue to thrive with far less anxiety than many of us experience today. What’s their secret? Resilience is not about avoiding hardship. It’s about finding strength through connection, perspective, and simple, healthy habits. Raising Kids Who Thrive, No Matter What The world will always have challenges, and uncertainty is part of life. But by fostering resilience, we can raise kids who: Resilience is the gift that will carry our children through any uncertain future. Take the First Step Toward Resilience Today Start small. Have an honest, calm conversation with your kids. Eat dinner together tonight. Take a family walk and talk about gratitude. By showing up for your kids—calmly and consistently—you’re teaching them to navigate life’s challenges with grace and strength. Let’s raise kids who don’t just survive, but thrive.

The Message Behind the Weight Loss Craze: My Concerns About Ozempic and Similar Drugs

WHAT IS OZEMPIC? RISKS FOR NON-MEDICAl USE See the video below for my thoughts regarding Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro when used for non-medically advised weight loss . RISKS ON BODY IMAGE AND SOCIETY It seems to be a big trend and I worry about the message it’s sending. Here is a short video of my thoughts about the dangers as I see them. Please let me know your thoughts on this topic by joining my Eating Disorder, Nutrition and Body Image Parent Support Facebook Group by clicking here and ask to join. Here is a link to an article on Ozempic

What is emotional regulation?

Emotional regulation is a buzz word among parent experts right now. Essentially, emotionally regulating oneself pertains to an individual’s capacity to refrain from immediate reactions. These skills manifest during the interval between impulse and action, as individuals evaluate their natural inclinations against their desired responses. In other words, find your own coping skill such as taking a deep breath or walk away before reacting to your child’s big emotion. If a parent can be grounded themself then they can be calm for their child. When calmness prevails between parent and child during a tough moment, a teaching moment can result and less angst is present between both. A phrase I learned from Jai Institute of Parenting certification program is, “Anchor yourself so you can be a safe harbor for your child.”

Are you a lighthouse or helicopter parent?

We have all heard about helicopter parents. We have all seen them in action. We even may “helicopter” ourselves sometimes. Research shows that this style of parenting leads to kids being more fearful, anxious, dependent and self-conscious.

I found a parenting term that refers to a much healthier and more likable kind of parenting, “Lighthouse parenting,” by Alexandra, Founder of Big Life Journal.

©siahfriedcoach.com

The Importance of Macro and Micronutrients

Macro and Micro Nutrients Macronutrients are the main nutrients our body needs to stay alive and functioning. They come from our three main nutrient sources: carbohydrates (which our body uses immediately to break down energy), protein, and fats. They are referred to as macro because we need a large amount of them for energy in the form of calories. They also maintain your body’s structure and functioning. This is why it is important to eat balanced diets with the suggested amount of each macro at every meal instead of favoring any one macronutrient per a weight loss diet or other reason (unless advised by your doctor per a health condition). There is scientific basis for the recommended amount of each macronutrient based on age and energy output. For more information, take a look at the American Dietary Guidelines. Micronutrients are referred to as micro NOT because they are less important than macronutrients, but because we need smaller or trace amounts of them for normal growth and development. Micronutrients, often referred to as vitamins and minerals, are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and wellbeing. With the exception of vitamin D, micronutrients are not produced in the body and must be derived from the diet. Though we only need small amounts of micronutrients, consuming the recommended amount is important. Micronutrient deficiencies can have devastating consequences. At least half of children worldwide younger than 5 years of age suffer from vitamin and mineral deficiencies CDC/Nutrition/micornutrient For coaching appointments please reach out to me at: Siah_fried@yahoo.com  Eating Disorders, Disordered Eating, & Dietary Restriction Can Result In Macro & Micro Undernutrition According to the Cleveland Clinic, malnutrition is an imbalance between the nutrients your body needs to function and the nutrients it gets. It can mean undernutrition or overnutrition. You can be malnourished from an overall lack of calories, or you might have a protein, vitamin or mineral deficiency. You might also have more excess calories than your body knows what to do with. Macronutrient undernutrition Also called protein-energy undernutrition, this is a deficiency of macronutrients: proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Macronutrients are the main building blocks of your diet, the nutrients that your body relies on to produce energy to maintain itself. Without them — or even just one of them — your body soon begins to fall apart, breaking down tissues and shutting down nonessential functions to conserve its low energy. Micronutrient undernutrition Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. Your body needs these in smaller amounts, but they are very necessary for our body, for all types of functions. Many people are mildly deficient in certain vitamins and minerals from a lack of variety in their diet. This is why the medical and nutrition community reminds us to vary our daily nutrient intake. You might not notice a mild vitamin deficiency affecting you, but as micronutrient undernutrition becomes more severe, it can begin to have serious and lasting effects on the body and brain. An increasing number of studies are revealing that diet and nutrition are critical not only for physiology and body composition, but also have significant effects on mood and mental well-being. In particular, Western dietary habits have been the object of several research studies focusing on the relationship between nutrition and mental health. Muscaritoli M. (2021). The Impact of Nutrients on Mental Health and Well-Being: Insights From the Literature. Frontiers in nutrition, 8, 656290. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.656290