Tag: emotional wellness

Back-to-School Blues: Navigating the Mental Health Challenges for Kids and Parents

On By Naty MatosIn ArticlesLeave a comment

The end of summer often brings a mix of emotions—excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and stress. As backpacks are packed, lunchboxes lined up, and school calendars pinned on the fridge, both kids and parents can find themselves overwhelmed by the transition. While back-to-school season marks a new chapter of growth and learning, it can also trigger anxiety, burnout, and emotional strain for the entire family.

Let’s talk honestly about the mental health challenges that come with this season and explore realistic strategies to support your family’s well-being.

The Emotional Toll on Kids

Children, especially those starting a new school, grade level, or even changing schools altogether, can experience:

  • Separation anxiety (especially in younger kids)
  • Academic pressure or performance anxiety
  • Social stress: fears of bullying, fitting in, or navigating friendships
  • Sensory overload from long days, crowded classrooms, and routine changes

These emotional strains can show up as:

  • Trouble sleeping or waking up
  • Stomachaches or headaches with no clear cause
  • Emotional outbursts or mood swings
  • Withdrawal or silence about school experiences

The Silent Stress of Parents

While trying to be the steady hand for their children, parents often carry:

  • Financial pressure from school supplies, clothing, or extracurriculars
  • Work-life balance strain—especially for working parents juggling drop-offs, pick-ups, and homework
  • Emotional burnout from worrying about their child’s well-being, performance, and happiness

Parents may not notice their own stress until it shows up as:

  • Irritability or emotional exhaustion
  • Sleeplessness or feeling “on edge”
  • Feelings of guilt or inadequacy

How to Ease the Mental Load: Strategies That Help

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, here are some grounded strategies to help ease the back-to-school transition:

1. Normalize the Emotions

Let your child know that it’s okay to feel nervous, overwhelmed, or even sad about the return to school. Validate their feelings before jumping into solutions. Model the same honesty for yourself: “I’m feeling a little stressed too, and that’s okay.”

2. Create Consistent Routines

Structure helps reduce anxiety. Start transitioning to school-year routines a week or two early—especially sleep and meal times. A predictable rhythm brings security and calm for both kids and parents.

3. Schedule Mental Health Check-Ins

Make it a habit to check in emotionally with your child, even just 5–10 minutes after school, to ask open-ended questions:

  • “What was the best part of your day?”
  • “Was there anything today that felt tough?”

Do the same for yourself. Journal, pray, or talk with a trusted friend about your own emotional state.

4. Practice Calming Techniques Together

Incorporate deep breathing, morning affirmations, or quiet time into your routine. These small practices build resilience and teach emotional regulation.

5. Set Realistic Expectations

Back-to-school doesn’t have to be perfect. Focus on progress, not perfection. Celebrate small wins—like getting out the door on time, finishing a hard assignment, or trying something new.

6. Build in Joy

Plan small family traditions to look forward to—Friday night movie night, Saturday pancake breakfast, or mid-week dance breaks. These joyful moments help balance out the mental load.

7. Know When to Get Support

If stress, anxiety, or sadness lingers beyond the adjustment period, it’s okay to seek professional support. Therapy or counseling can offer tools for both children and parents to manage emotional wellness.

Remember: Transitions Take Time

The beginning of the school year is not just a logistical change—it’s an emotional one. Be gentle with your kids. Be gentle with yourself. Your mental well-being is just as important as getting to school on time.

Let’s prioritize emotional safety this school year as much as academic success. When our hearts are healthy, our minds learn best.

Let’s Thrive Together.

If this season has you feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to carry it alone. Thrive by The Rising Muse is here to walk with you through real life, real emotions, and real growth.

SEE, EXPOSE, LOVE, FREE: The Journey to Inner Freedom

On By Naty MatosIn ThriveLeave a comment

What if the thing holding you back wasn’t the trauma itself—but what you’ve been taught to believe about yourself because of it?

In our latest Thrive by The Rising Muse episode, we sit down with coach, author, and trauma survivor Danielle Bernock, whose story and method might just shift how you see healing… and yourself.

Danielle shares the heart and soul behind her S.E.L.F. method—SEE, EXPOSE, LOVE, FREE—and how it helps people step out of inner chaos and into ownership of their lives. We talk about spiritual trauma, childhood emotional neglect, identity, self-worth, boundaries, and the power of choosing you.

This episode is honest, layered, and deeply personal—for us and probably for you, too.

🎧 Whether you’re just starting your healing journey or deep in the work, this conversation will meet you where you are. With compassion. With clarity. With hope.

Spoiler: There’s even a taco named Gary. (Yes, really.)

Don’t miss this one. Tap in. Share it. Save it. Heal with us.

Danielle Bernock—a trauma survivor, coach, speaker, and the founder of 4F Media.
Danielle has helped countless people reclaim their worth, heal deep wounds, and walk in emotional and spiritual freedom. She’s also the author of books like Emerging With Wings, Because You Matter, and Love’s Manifesto. Her coaching method is called S.E.L.F.—SEE, EXPOSE, LOVE, FREE. It’s a four-part process that helps people come out of “inner chaos” and into clarity, healing, and ownership of their lives. To schedule a Discovery session with Danielle, click here. For her website, click here.

“That lady on the internet who loves you.”

🎙️ Available now on all major platforms.

The Healing Power of Gratitude

On By Naty MatosIn Articles, Inspirational ThoughtsLeave a comment

The Journey of Gratitude

Gratitude is not something that simply appears overnight. It’s a journey that takes shape through our experiences, especially those where we’ve faced challenges and adversities. These difficult moments are like the crucible through which coal transforms into a precious diamond. They have the power to teach us valuable lessons, and the wisdom gained from these experiences forms the foundation of true gratitude.

The Role of Responsibility

We often encounter situations in life where we face hardships, and it’s only natural to want to understand what went wrong and who, if anyone, was responsible. Part of this introspection involves analyzing the situation, including our own contributions. While it’s essential to recognize where others may have played a role, it’s equally important to take responsibility for our own actions.

Blaming others for the decisions we made in the past is not a genuine act of introspection. It’s important to remember that, except for instances of abuse, we all have a part to play in most of the situations that unfold in our lives. Taking accountability for our actions is the first step towards healing. Until we acknowledge our part in a situation, we won’t grasp the valuable lessons it was meant to impart.

Understanding the Lesson

Once we’ve accepted our responsibility in a situation, we can begin to understand the lesson it carries. It’s often through challenges and hardships that we learn the most about ourselves and our capabilities. These lessons may be tough, but they contribute to our personal growth and development.

Understanding the lesson and recognizing its value can be a transformative experience. When we acknowledge the wisdom that has been gained through adversity, we can start to develop genuine gratitude. This gratitude isn’t just about being thankful for our current circumstances, but also for the personal growth and wisdom that have emerged from the difficulties we’ve faced.

Gratitude is a complex and deeply meaningful emotion that involves not only being thankful for what we have but also recognizing the value in our experiences and taking responsibility for our actions. It’s a journey that often begins in the crucible of adversity and personal challenges, leading us to discover the precious lessons life has to offer.

In the end, true gratitude is about more than just saying “thank you.” It’s about understanding that even in our darkest moments, there is an opportunity for growth and wisdom. By acknowledging our role in the events that unfold in our lives and embracing the lessons they provide, we can cultivate a profound sense of gratitude that goes beyond the surface and becomes a transformative force in our lives. So, the next time you find yourself facing a difficult situation, remember that it might just be the coal that’s about to turn into a diamond.

As always, be blessed