Hi Tatiana,
I have an issue with my 11 year old. I don’t know how to reprimand to fit the crime. My daughter learned how to craft and sell items to friends with YouTube. I took her last week to buy fabric and we bought very little. When asked if she needed more she replied “no.”… Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
Dear Tatiana,
My husband is 83, in great shape, healthy and plays tennis. He is losing memories. Things that just happened he does not remember. He asks me the same question over and over. I have taken him to a neurologist. He gave him pills to take twice a day. He won’t take them as he never took any pills in his life, not even vitamins. … Read More »
Good morning!
My husband retired last year from a long and successful career. As part of his job he spent hours in front of the computer at the office and then at home as well. I never really thought anything about it as he had a demanding position. However, now he spends 12-16 hours a day in his home office looking at the computer, and is fully retired.… Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
Tatiana –
Recently, I was in a close friend group of well-educated, Christian and moderately conservative friends. The subject came up that marriages and family relationships are being highly challenged, due to the current political era of divisiveness and negativity. Specifically, personal relationships, that were once more in sync, are now adamantly retreating to opposite corners with staunch differing opinions and changes of heart, and it’s causing stress and heartache.… Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
Dear Tatiana,
My daughter attends Dunwoody Elementary and was so scared yesterday with the level three alert and having to hide from a potential intruder. Lots of her friends treated it like a game and it didn’t affect them at all. Although I’ve reassured her that the teachers are going to keep her safe, she refused to go to school today.… Read More »
Dear Tatiana,
How old do you think kids should be before getting their first smart phone? There seems to be so many dangers and I’m just not sure my middle schooler is equipped to handle the dangers, the distractions and the peer pressure. However, it seems that everyone in her middle school has a smart phone and has free reign to Snap Chat and post Instagram photos practically whenever and however they please.… Read More »
I have an acquaintance with a college-aged child who is battling drug addiction. I don’t know them very well at all, but the family seems fairly open about the recovery and addiction. However, obviously it is a sensitive and serious issue. My question is hard to put into words, but basically I’m wondering if it is helpful or hurtful to reach out to the parents or not?… Read More »
Hope you are doing well. I have an 11-year-old daughter who eats the entire dinner knowing her Dad has not come home to dinner to eat his portion. She has never bothered to ask if anyone else is eating and just helps herself. It does not happen every time, but we are nevertheless frustrated.… Read More »
Our college age nephew recently took his own life. My much younger children loved spending time with him. He was academically and athletically gifted and a very pleasant person. I want to be honest with the kids, but this is so tragic should we take them to the funeral?
-Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Take them.… Read More »
I’m struggling with a situation with my parents. My dad is a really nice guy in most regards, but for some reason has always thought (at least as long as I can remember) it’s okay to be rude, sarcastic, etc. to my mom (and to me as a teen). It created terrible friction in our house growing up. … Read More »
Tatiana Matthews LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
Where to start??? My son was probably 5 or so when he stopped sleeping in his own room, own bed. He was waking every night several times scared to go back to sleep. He had a bad dream about a monster or something. To get through and save our sanity we moved him into our other son’s room.… Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
It seems like every time I turn around another friend is telling me that their child has been diagnosed with ADHD or something that will give them extra time on standardized testing. It seems to be so commonplace these days. My child was always a good student but lately (middle school) seems to be less interested in school/homework/studying and has what may be “trouble focusing”. … Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
How soon after a divorce or death of a spouse is it appropriate to start dating? Is the answer different based on whether or not you have kids and how old they are? I’m asking for a couple of friends with different situations. It just seems like the older we get the more adult friends we have that are parenting alone and are lonely for adult companionship. … Read More »
Tatiana Matthews LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
Update: In response to several folks asking Tatiana for resources to educate their children before leaving for school, Tatiana has provided the following link:
Dear Tatiana,
My daughter just graduated from high school and is heading off to college out of state next month. We have several friends with kids who are one and two years older and have heard a few stories about older kids with friends or roommates who have had a ton of trouble adjusting to college life for various reasons. … Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
My 8-year old daughter is petrified of storms. If there is even a cloud in the sky, her demeanor changes and she starts to worry that it may storm which takes her away from enjoying the day. If it ends up storming, whatever we are doing is ruined because of her panic and distress.… Read More »
Tatiana Matthews, LPC
tatiana@theahaconnection.com
