Holding Hands: Supporting Children Through Parental Crises
June 21, 2023
Hosted by Lynn McLaughlin
[Download MP3] [itunes] [Bookmark Episode]
Guest Information
Episode Description
When faced with the worst thing that’s ever happened to you, how do you want to show up for yourself — and your family? Sara Olsher is a cancer survivor and also experienced a difficult divorce when her daughter was under 2 years of age. How do we build a foundation for open communication with our children to support them while we make our way forward? Our children know when something is wrong in our homes, even if they can't identify what it is and often we will see it in their behaviours as they become anxious and worried. She's developed a multitude of resources for parents to help our children cope, including children's books specifically about cancer and divorce. The mission of her company Mighty + Bright is to raise a resilient generation of kids who can handle life's toughest stuff. Sara learned the hard way that not talking about crises is the opposite of what we should be doing. Letting people help in times of crisis also gives them the ability to offer care and compassion, as the CEO of her company did for her. What skills do we need when we're handling fear ourselves? Connect with Sara: https://mightyandbright.com/
Taking the Helm
Weekly Podcast Episodes available on-demand on VoiceAmerica Health and Wellness Channel
My current mission is: To empower children by helping them discover the essential stepping stones they need to strengthen their emotional well-being. The vision is: To cultivate confidence, empathy, responsibility, and self-awareness in children, equipping them with the skills to regulate their emotions in a positive way. Our children deserve to be emotionally healthy as they grow through youth into adulthood. As adults, if we model these behaviors for our children and incorporate them into our own daily lives, imagine the synergy we can create! We have become accustomed to wait for symptoms before we seek help, both emotionally and physically. It's time to change our way of thinking from reactive to proactive. Let's learn what we need to now so kids growing up have skills and strategies to use for life, in this very challenging world.
Lynn McLaughlin
Lynn McLaughlin has served in many roles as an educator … Superintendent, Principal, Vice-Principal, Teacher, and Educational Consultant. As a best-selling and award-winning author, Lynn has now teamed up with her niece, Amber Raymond, to co-author a children’s book series titled, “The Power of Thought”. Both are passionate about being proactive when it comes to children’s mental health. When children learn to manage their emotions at a young age, they learn to problem-solve and find positive solutions to everyday situations. Lynn has hosted the podcast, Taking the Helm for over three years. One of her guests might be the change agent you need in your own life! Lynn’s professional speaking experiences have been local, provincial, and international. She offers virtual and in-person interactive presentations geared toward parents and school communities focusing on emotional well-being. Dedicated to community causes, Lynn is a member of 100 Women Who Care Windsor/Essex and is a Rotarian. As a brain tumour survivor, she works tirelessly to support the goals of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.
