Parents, it's OK if you're feeling numb right now

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It’s not just you. If you’re a parent in America right now, you’re probably running through all the emotions, especially as back-to-school season looms: anxiety, fear, and, maybe most of all, numbness. ‌ And that numbness is entirely natural. As Olivia Bergeron, who runs Mommy Groove Therapy & Parent Coaching in New York City, told senior reporter Catherine Pearson (herself a mom of two boys), “After being on high alert for so long, it’s entirely understandable that numbness would set in. No one can sustain a state of emergency for any length of time. We weren’t built that way. Fight or flight is supposed to be a temporary state to ensure survival, not a permanent way of living.” ‌ So if you’re feeling… nothing… that’s OK. That’s your mind basically telling you it’s in overdrive and has to work on coping. I know that’s how I’m feeling. ‌ If you want to know more about this numbness, check out Catherine’s great article here.

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Many parents understandably want to teach their children to be emotionally intelligent, or compassionate, empathetic, resilient kids. But how? You can start by reading books that help kids learn to express emotions. And if you’re curious to know if your kid is on track emotionally, check out this piece by senior reporter Catherine Pearson about questions to help you gauge their EQ.

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