Family Life Stories

 

I’ve long said that reading fictional stories allows readers to explore personal issues, coming to terms with deep emotions and complex life choices. And then last week I came across an article about couples reading to reconnect and book clubs as therapy.

For Boston’s Fox 25 Morning News, I’ve been parenting & family life contributor since the show’s inception in 2003, appearing live in segments about family. For the last year I’ve been appearing in a segment called FAMILY LIFE STORIES. During this 4-5 minute, I take an important family life topic and recommend books. Novels, memoirs, nonfiction, and children’s books are highlighted live on air by me, with one of the morning news anchors. Imagine a Boston version of the popular Today Show segment with author and book critic John Searles.

Since I couldn’t agree more that reading can be therapeutic, I thought I’d offer a recap of my Family Life Stories segments to date. Remember, for each topic you’ll find fiction, memoir, self-help, and sometimes children’s books to choose from. Hope you’ll find a topic of interest to you.

Understanding Addiction–Whether you came from a family where a parent struggled with alcoholism or have a child now addicted to drugs, in this week’s Family Life Stories segment, I’ve got some compelling book selections to help you understand and cope.

Should you divorce?–While many ponder the question, the answer is as complicated and personal as you and your relationship. In this week’s Family Life Stories segment airing on Boston’s Fox Morning News, I’ve got some terrific book selections to help guide your decision making.

Children with Special Needs–A good portion of my work with families focuses on understanding temperament, so I believe all children have unique learning styles. Still it’s true that some children have more complex learning needs than others, and/or medical issues that make family life more challenging for them and for you. In today’s book segment, Family Life Stories, I’ve got some fantastic resources aimed at helping you enhance your knowledge, refine your attitudes, and develop your skill in understanding children with special needs.

 Disordered Eating–terrific book selections to help you understand disordered eating.

Politics of Childcare–We’ve come a long way when it comes to women, motherhood, and work. Or have we? In this morning’s Family Life Stories segment I’ll explore the price mothers pay in the workplace, and share resources to maximize your role as a woman and mother who works.

Safe from Abduction–Every parent’s worst nightmare—a son or daughter is missing. You’ve heard the news stories and maybe you’ve turned away, certain you can’t handle this subject. But knowledge is power. This morning, in our Family Life Stories segment we’ll offer great resources aimed at keeping your child safe.

Technology–Cell phones, video games, mp3s and laptops, welcome to the plugged-in generation. It may be fun and fast and fashionable, but raising children in the digital age brings with it new parenting dilemmas. Lynne Griffin, RN, MEd, FOX 25 contributor and family life expert, stopped by the FOX 25 Morning News to talk about what you need to know about how technology impacts development and learning.

Grief–a broad and complex topic. While there are some informative self-help books available on coping with the nuances of grieving, it is the very nature of loss, the fact that it is both a universal and personal experience that makes it hard to tackle in prescriptive ways. Every person’s journey toward healing is deeply personal, and yet we’re all tied to each other in the collective experience of it. In today’s Family Life Stories book segment, I’ve chosen to highlight a stunning collection of novels and memoirs about different types of loss, each with a strong message that there is hope in healing.