On this week's episode of Raising Me, we delve deeper into a topic of one of our most downloaded episodes - kids and anxiety. Adrienne and guest Rebecca Hoffman talk about that beast of branch of anxiety known as Social Anxiety. They discuss the pandemics influence on our children's developing social experience, the importance of stress tolerance, and how we can help. About the guest: Rebecca Hoffmann is the Director of the MaineHealth Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. By training, Rebecca ..read more

Raising Me takes on the delicate, yet crucial topic of navigating conversations about divorce with your children and how to build healthy co-parenting relationships. Host Adrienne Stein speaks with Kids First Board of Directors member and recently retired child and family therapist Steve Young. Steve has worked with families for more than three decades, helping them through this challenging time in a healthy and productive way with the kids’ best interest at heart. They talk about how to tell your kids about a separation, how to communicate effectively with your co-parent, and resources y ..read more

Anxiety among kids is on the rise since the pandemic, which can heartbreaking - especially when parents don’t know how to best help their children. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an impactful conversation with Rebecca Hoffman, Director of MaineHealth’s Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation. Rebecca shares early signs to watch out for, sheds light on why anxiety rates are skyrocketing, and explains why this topic matters for all of us, even those who don’t have kids dealing with anxiety. Plus, a look back at how we were raised when anxiety may not have been talked about as a disorde ..read more

If you’re the parent or caregiver of a "picky eater" you know the stress it can cause at mealtimes; along with the worry about nutrition. It’s not something all kids just grow out of either. In this episode, Raising Me host Adrienne Stein talks with Registered Dietitian Kate Gosselin about some of the reasons behind picky eating, what we can do to stop the cycle of making multiple meals, and when professional help might be needed. About the guest: With more than 10 years of experience as a diabetes educator and more than 15 years of experience as a registered dietitian, Kathryn Gosselin is pa ..read more

The unpaid work by family caregivers across the country amounts to $600 billion, according to the AARP. The same survey found 52% of caregivers experienced income loss due to missed work. Those numbers paint an eye-opening reality for adults in the so-called "sandwich generation." That’s the term for those caught between caring for aging parents while raising their own children. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein dives into the stresses, both financially and emotionally, as well as resources available to help with LCSW Becky Hadiaris. Becky is the Manager of the Family Caregiver Support Program at ..read more

If you’ve struggled with when, or if, you should allow your kids to get social media, you are in good company. Many, if not most, parents do. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein asks Dr. Jeffery Barkin about how to know when our kids are ready, how we should monitor it, along with both the positive and negative sides of social media ..read more

There is no shortage of opinions when it comes to how, when, and why to discipline children, and many parents struggle with self-doubt through it all. When should we set boundaries? When should they be lifted? What if our methods aren't effective? And let's be real – what about those moments when we overreact? The guilt can be overwhelming. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an insightful conversation with therapist Monika Eichler about these parenting challenges. Monika shares strategies for handling discipline, understanding when to adjust your approach, and how to cope with those inevitable ..read more

Ah, the holiday season, touted as "the most wonderful time of the year" by the classic song. However, the idea is often different than the reality for many of us. The pressure during the holidays can feel overwhelming—juggling family dynamics and expectations, financial strains, travel logistics, children's needs, work deadlines, and the weight of grief for some. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein sits down with Theresa Petrosky, LCPC with Maine Behavioral Healthcare to talk about holiday stressors and ways to cope, while managing the expectations of the holidays in healthy ways ..read more

Have you ever had a conversation with a teen or preteen and left scratching your head wondering, ‘what the heck did they just say?’ Raising Me host Adrienne Stein checks in with Shannan King, who is part of the GEAR Parent Network. Shannan helps translate some of the words you may be hearing around your house, particularly if your kids are just starting to test vernacular boundaries. She’ll also go through the texting terms you should know to make sure your teens are communicating safely online. If something is "fire" you don't need to get the hose, "stan" isn't a new friend, and just what is ..read more

In light of the mass shooting in Maine recently, host Adrienne Stein talks with psychiatrist Dr. Jeffery Barkin about age-appropriate ways to speak with our children about tragedy. This is more than how to talk to our children after what happened in Lewiston - this is about how to connect with children anywhere when faced with having difficult conversations about experiences we as parents wish we could protect them from forever.  Dr. Barkin explains the most important thing we can do during these difficult conversations, how we can ease anxiety for both us as parents and our kids, plus wh ..read more