by Cathy Tompkins, MA | Jul 15, 2021 | Thoughts for Families
I have to remind myself to offer my credentials occasionally to those readers who may wonder why I write the way I do. Though I have a Master’s degree in Psychology (and have let my counseling license lapse); it is not this that I feel is the best source for my...
by Cathy Tompkins, MA | Jun 15, 2021 | Thoughts for Families, Uncategorized
Skin color matters. Hair texture matters. History matters. I know I risk angering some readers with these ideas but that has never stopped me before. I hope you will stay with me. 1. My daughter’s best friend in high school was a black girl whose daddy had served in...
by Cathy Tompkins, MA | May 13, 2021 | Thoughts for Families, Uncategorized
We are into this pandemic for over a year. I hope you are able to get vaccinated. So many of us have health issues that prevent us from getting vaccinations; it is up to the rest of us to do what we can to achieve herd immunity. I had no problems with the first...
by Cathy Tompkins, MA | Apr 14, 2021 | Thoughts for Families
When I’m not annoyed, irritable, distracted, angry, hungry, or otherwise dysregulated, it is pretty cool what my neocortex can come up with in the way of creative responses to the children in my care. I’ll share an old, favorite story then another, less productive but...
by Cathy Tompkins, MA | Mar 11, 2021 | Thoughts for Families
On a recent call, an AZAFAP foster mom shared that the three girls who have lived with her for 3 years (one since birth) are being considered for reunification. She was being a trooper, but anger and frustration were her go-to feeling states. As we listened to her...
by Cathy Tompkins, MA | Feb 11, 2021 | Thoughts for Families
Changes, Some Small, Some Huge Part of what you do as a parent to a child with a history of chronic trauma is celebrate small changes. Sometimes you must journal behavioral observations to even recognize those changes. It is very confusing when the progress you saw...
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