Heartmanity's Blog

Our family, comprised of my husband, two sons, and myself, has historically gotten along pretty well; we are generally close-knit, open with conversations and emotions, and enjoy one another’s company. However, the truth is, after months of COVID forced lifestyle changes, we are sick of each other, really sick of each other. The weirdest thing about it, though? Even though we are sick of each other, we miss each other. What a contradiction!

We miss the preciousness of togetherness.

As schools across the nation from Pre-K to Doctoral work have moved to online platform schools, teachers, students, and families alike are struggling to deal with the transition. As a Middle School Teacher, I have struggled with the transition from Brick-and-Mortar School Teacher to Coming to You from My Living Room Teacher.

The most critical concept that has helped me with this transition has been learning the phrase Emergency Distance Education (EDE). It has a few variations including Emergency Remote Learning and Emergency Remote Education.

Apologies are essential in our relationships. No matter how they are given, whether through an apology letter or in person, apologies recognize that hurt has happened due to the actions of another. Without that recognition, bitterness and resentment can build.

When given freely and sincerely, apologies hold the power to be precious. They say, “I have screwed up and have hurt you.” Are we able to mend and move forward in our relationship in spite of the screw-up? Will the experience result in greater distance or more closeness and understanding?

Every summer, my little family of four heads travels to the family cottages in Northern Michigan. Once there, we meet up with three generations of cousins, two sets of grandparents, and a multitude of friends. The friends’ cottages are also full of multiple generations across their family trees. Intergenerational living in cottages is a lot of fun, but it can also have its share of challenges.

What does this have to do with you? Intergenerational living is subject to a long list of struggles—and joys—that others don’t have. But at the heart of this complex dynamic, the challenges are the [...]

In my younger years, I did a lot of journaling to process my emotions and sort through my thoughts. However, it’s no longer my favorite way to process, organize, or share information. I haven’t journaled in years, but I have done a lot of mind mapping. It’s fun, effective, and it works with the natural processes of the brain.

Tony Buzan, coined the term and technique, Mind Mapping, in the 1960s. Buzan is a specialist in innovation, memory, thinking process, and creativity. The basic premise is to use pictures, words, colors, and nonlinear forms to create, remember, organize, or present [...]

If you're wondering why your teenager is glued to their phone or computer, you've come to the right place. The answer: Dopamine-Seeking Reward Loops—that’s why! Of course, it isn’t that simple—we can’t give the entire rap to Dopamine Seeking Reward Loops. There are plenty of other factors why teens get hooked: fulfilling emotional needs, boredom, lack of self-restraint, connection with friends, to name a few. Here we’re going to explore how dopamine affects teens and their developing brains. For the sake of ease, we’re going to shorten to the culprit to Dopamine Loops.

Recently, I was having a really rough time functioning. I was struggling due to higher than normal family conflict, work stress, and sleep deprivation. We even missed paying some bills, which is so unusual. I wasn’t drinking water or eating nutritious food, and I was certainly not getting any exercise, which I love.  

At some point during this tough time, I ran into a friend who is a mental health professional, and after I vented a bit, she said, “You need to do something for you today.”

I thought, “Hmmm, she’s talking about self-care, but WHAT exactly does that even mean to me right now, [...]

When a parent thinks of avoiding power struggles with children, empathy may not be at the top of their list. It is an underutilized response that few parents use when in conflict with their children and teens.

Sometimes I get wildly angry at screens—whether an Xbox or TV—and my children’s inability to end their session the second I ask them. If I wasn't so frugally and environmentally driven, I might be tempted to throw screens out of moving vehicles and second story windows.

Internet Addiction, Texting Addiction, Screen Addiction, and Online Gaming Addiction are all phrases we hear in modern times but are they really a thing? Well, yes they are, and no they are not. What?! Keep on reading to see why this is not a clear-cut answer.

First off, let’s talk about dopamine because it currently has a lot of media attention due to its association with possible screen and gaming addiction.

The term "social media" did not even exist in mainstream culture when I had my first son in 2004. My mother and I still wrote snail-mail and email letters back and forth and talked on the phone. That is how I kept in contact with all my out-of-town loved ones, and as for my in-town peeps, it was face-to-face get-togethers and phone calls with occasional emails to coordinate plans that involved more than a few of us.Going back a bit further, the social currency for young people in my era was notes written during class and passed in the halls, phone calls, and chat gatherings in the corners of [...]