Content warning: This podcast discusses sensitive topics related to mental health, such as severe major depression, self-harm, and suicide or suicidal ideation. We encourage you to care for your safety and well-being. If you or someone close to you may be in crisis, or simply needs support, we encourage you to reach out to a health or mental health professional. If you believe that you or a loved one may be in immediate danger, call 911. When your child is experiencing symptoms of severe major depression, having suicidal ideations, or engaging in self-harming behaviors, it may feel as if your ..read more

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is a U.S. law that requires covered employers to provide employees with protected, unpaid leave for certain medical and family reasons. Yet, many Americans are unsure of the ways in which FMLA could make a significant difference in their ability to meet parenting or caregiving responsibilities as a working person. Join Torchlight host Stefanie Boucher for a conversation with Teri Weber, a partner and Senior Vice President at Spring Consulting group and subject matter expert on employee benefits and absence management programs, including FMLA. In ..read more

Are you caring for a seriously ill loved one? If so, perhaps there are moments when you feel overwhelmed or even powerless as you try to get (and give) your loved one the best possible care. In this episode, join Torchlight hosts Lenore Tracey and Stefanie Boucher for a conversation with Erin Mulqueen Galyean, author of Badass Advocate: Becoming the Champion Your Seriously Ill Loved One Deserves. Whether your child or loved one is hospitalized or at home, listen to learn how to: - Build a support team for you and the patient and ask for help when you need it; - Overcome fear of authority figu ..read more

When Kate Washington sailed into her 40s, she had no expectation of the disaster that was about to strike. She had a Ph.D. in Victorian literature, a successful career as a freelance writer, and was raising two young daughters in sunny California alongside her husband, Brad. In her own words, it was a nice life. Then, Brad was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer that led to a string of health crises and turned the trajectory of her family’s existence upside down. Kate, already carrying a heavy mental load within the household, was suddenly thrust into the role of an unpaid fami ..read more

Most people know that sleep is essential to good health. But what you might not know is that most Americans (about 60 to 80 percent of us, including our children and teens) aren’t getting nearly enough of it - not by a long shot. And that’s a big deal. Studies show that insufficient sleep can lead to poorer health outcomes and quality of life, an increased risk of accidents, diminished productivity, and even an inhibited ability to learn and solve problems. Fortunately, whether you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or simply stay up too late at night, most sleep problems are treata ..read more

Have you or your child been feeling anxious, sad, or stressed since the onset of the pandemic? If so, you aren’t alone. In fact, recent studies show that around a third of Americans report symptoms of anxiety or depression. Social isolation, the looming threat of COVID-19, lost jobs, remote education, and political unrest have taken an emotional toll on almost everyone. And, to compound matters, there is the additional stressor of not knowing how long our current situation will last! But could these ongoing disruptions to our daily lives result in lasting trauma or are we simply stressed out ..read more

Are you struggling to decide whether your child should attend school in-person or remotely this fall? Join Exceptional Parenting Podcast host Stefanie Boucher and Eldercare Illuminated podcast host Lenore Tracey for an in-depth discussion about the considerations parents are facing for the 2020-21 school year. In this episode, we’ll provide: •An overview of the most common learning and attendance models taking shape right now •Practical suggestions about how to make the “best” decision for your family •How to let go of stress or guilt, no matter which path you take •Tips for how to make in-pe ..read more

As if the coronavirus pandemic were not bad enough, it has spawned another epidemic. Testing and treatment scams, product delivery scams, tax identity theft, and a multitude of new and creative ways to get people to divulge private information or click on sites that load malware, ransomware, and other dangerous software onto their devices are on the rise. As our guest, Steve Weisman says, “Things aren’t as bad as you think, they are far worse.” But don’t despair. Steve joins Torchlight’s Exceptional Parenting Podcast host, Stefanie Boucher, and Eldercare Illuminated host, Lenore Tracey, and f ..read more

You probably know the drill. It begins the moment you ask your child to do something. "Please pick up your shoes." "Start your homework." "Feed the dog." But instead of being met with the eager cooperation that parents everywhere dream of, you’re met with the same familiar response. "Hang on." "I’ll do it later." "In a minute." Of course, in kid-speak a “minute” rarely turns out to be just a minute. And occasionally, it seems (to parents, at least) like code for "I don’t want to do that at all." And so your child or teen may wait until the last possible minute to complete the requested task ..read more

Your child wasn’t supposed to be home until summer. Not long ago, s/he was away at college, enjoying the freedoms and privileges that come with young adult life. Then came a pandemic. Campuses across the country shut down, moved classes online, and sent the students home – to their parents! Our young people have lost a lot, and they lost it quickly. Many of them are grieving. You may be grieving, too. And you may also have many questions about how to successfully live with your young adult child when neither of you was planning to do so. Join Exceptional Parenting Podcast host Stefanie Bouche ..read more