Understanding Growth, Challenges, and Moving Forward The final week of school often arrives with a mix of emotions. There is excitement about summer, relief that the year is ending, and anticipation for what comes next. At the same time, many children and teens are carrying emotions they may not fully understand or know how to express. Some students are ending the year feeling proud and confident after overcoming challenges or reaching important goals. Others may quietly feel disappointed,...

As the school year comes to a close, stress levels for many students begin to rise. Final exams, state testing, AP exams, college entrance tests, final projects, and pressure to finish strong can all hit at once. Last week, we talked about the pressure students feel from expectations and end-of-year stress. For many students, however, the biggest challenge this time of year is not simply the workload—it’s test anxiety. A little nervousness before a test is normal. In fact, some stress can...

Mother’s Day is often filled with pictures of smiling families, breakfast in bed, and heartfelt captions. But for many moms, the reality feels very different. You’re tired. You’re carrying the mental load for everyone. You’re wondering why it still feels like you’re the one making the day happen. And maybe there’s a quiet thought in the background: “Why do I feel this way on a day that’s supposed to be about me?” If that’s you—there’s nothing wrong with you and you are not alone. The...