Wood's Homes Blog
Lessons learned with the support of Acute@Home
Becky, a 13-year-old female, had been to the hospital a couple times before engaging with Wood’s Homes’ A@H Program. She shared that she felt she’d made a mistake the first time she arrived at the hospital, as she did not tell the truth and kept important information from the professionals working with her – and that it took her some time before she realized that the professionals were not there to judge her.
Raising Boys To Become Good Fathers
While it is important for boys to have a number of positive male role models, fathers (in whatever forms they take) may be uniquely positioned to teach boys about masculinity. Recent events, such as the controversial Gillette advertisement, which focused largely on fathers and openly challenged all men to be better, resulted in a lot of public backlash in defense of a certain type of masculinity.
The elephant in the room: Why talking about mental health in families is so hard
Stigma has been around for centuries, with the word originating from early Greek to mean the mark on a person that labelled them in some way. The ‘stigma of mental illness’ refers to the devaluing of a person based on negative beliefs, attitudes and perceptions about ‘mental illness’ that mark a person as different from an accepted norm.
The art of stories and storytelling: How narratives grow us as people
I don’t know about you, but when it’s particularly cold outside (and it has been COLD), my favourite thing to do is curl up in front of a fire with a blanket and a good book.
This has always been my go-to for self-care and relaxation, and it has me thinking about the importance of stories in the lives of families and children.
Home is where the heart is: When leaving home is part of growing up (Part III)
Not all kids will choose to go away after high school or choose a post-secondary educational experience that requires leaving home. But for those who do, there are definitely some issues that could be broached around the dinner table.
Home is where the heart is: Separations and growth (Part II)
Last month, I talked about the importance of instilling a sense of home in our children that they can carry with them throughout their lives. This month, I’ve been thinking about some of the ways in which separation can be a rite of passage for children (and their parents) resulting in positive feelings of independence and self-esteem, while still invoking a sense of connection.
Home is where the heart is
What if you have to leave home in order to find a sense of safety and belonging? What if the reason you stay on the streets for so long, is because you have such a hard time finding it?