Parenting Advisor - Online Parenting Programs

Gabriella Gething, Intern, Colorado State University With Judith A. Myers-Walls, Education Director, Able2Adjust/OnlineParentingPrograms.com Many families face tough transitions like financial stress, break-ups, or loss. The world can feel unsafe for your children at those times. In moments of deep stress, it is easy for you and your children to feel alone. You might feel like you carry the entire weight of the future on your shoulders. However, it might help to remember that your family already possesses a built-in safety shield called heritage. Heritage is not a boring history lesson. It is simply the beautiful tapestry of where you come from. This includes the regional customs of your hometown. It includes your cultural...

Working parents, single parents, and caregivers managing a household know how quickly family budgeting concerns turn into constant mental math. The core tension is simple and exhausting: keeping kids steady and supported while financial stress impact quietly raises parenting stress day after day. When bills, childcare costs, and unexpected expenses pile up, mental health challenges can show up as irritability, sleep trouble, dread, or feeling emotionally flat. None of this is a personal failure, it’s a predictable strain on the emotional wellbeing of parents. Why Money Stress Hits Parents So Hard When money feels uncertain, your brain treats it like a safety threat, not a spreadsheet problem. The stress response kicks in to help...

Iowa has a new option for resolving certain family law disputes. On July 1, 2026, Iowa's Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act took effect. The new law creates a framework for resolving certain family law disputes through arbitration instead of traditional litigation. If you're going through a divorce or custody case in Iowa, you may be wondering: What does this actually mean for me? Here's the simple version. First, what is family law arbitration? Arbitration is a process in which the parties agree to have a qualified neutral person (called an arbitrator) decide certain disputes. Instead of presenting the dispute through a traditional court trial, the parties present their case to the arbitrator under the procedures...

If you are going through a divorce, separation, or custody case in Iowa, you may have heard that the state's child support guidelines changed this year. The new Iowa Child Support Guidelines took effect January 1, 2026, following the Iowa Supreme Court's required review of the guidelines. The changes affect how child support is calculated, including the treatment of child care expenses, medical support, and the basic support schedule. Here's a simple look at what Iowa parents should know. What changed? The Iowa Supreme Court updated several parts of the state's child support guidelines. The most notable changes include: A new Schedule of Basic Support ObligationsA new way of handling child care expensesAn updated Medical...

For busy parents with anxiety who keep the household running while feeling chronically on edge, the hardest part is that worry can look like responsibility. The core tension is wanting to protect children’s emotional well-being while parental anxiety impact quietly shapes tone, routines, and the way kids read everyday situations. Because children track a parent’s cues, even subtle anxiety effects can teach them what to fear, how to interpret uncertainty, and whether feelings are safe to show. Recognizing these ripple effects is the first step toward steadier family mental health. Understanding How Worry Spreads in Families Parental anxiety doesn’t always look like panic. It can show up as constant checking, over-planning,...

For busy parents juggling work schedules, caregiving, and household logistics, parenting stress management can feel like a nonstop emergency response. The core tension is simple: the emotional load keeps growing while work-life balance in parenting keeps shrinking, and that pressure fuels real parental burnout challenges like irritability, numbness, and constant guilt. Mental and emotional wellness for parents matters because kids don’t just need care, they need a steady presence, even on hard days. Naming what drains parents most is the first step toward building emotional resilience in families. Understanding Adaptive, Creative Self-Care When the usual tips don’t work, creative self-care means choosing small, realistic...

From school supplies to homework routines, one conversation before the first day of school can help reduce conflict, improve communication, and give your child the consistency they need to thrive. A New School Year Is a Fresh Start The start of a new school year is exciting, but for children in two households, it can also bring uncertainty. New teachers, new routines, new schedules, and new expectations are easier to navigate when both parents are working toward the same goal: creating stability for their child. The good news? You don't have to agree on everything to give your child a successful school year. Before the first day of school, take time to have one important co-parenting conversation. It doesn't need to be long or...

For busy parents juggling work-life balance and childcare, busy family schedules can quietly become the default, until everything feels urgent and nothing feels settled. When children’s extracurricular activities stack up, the first things to disappear are recovery time, unstructured play, and the small moments that make family time management feel possible. The tension is real: families want opportunities and structure, but overscheduling often leaves kids with less capacity for children’s productivity and rest, and parents with more coordinating than connecting. Naming these warning signs early helps protect calm, consistency, and family time. Build a Balanced Plan: Prioritize, Cap Activities, and Protect Downtime When the...

When a wildfire threatens your community, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Between evacuations, poor air quality, school closures, and uncertainty about what’s next, emotions can run high for everyone. For co-parents, these challenges can become even more complicated when parenting schedules, communication, and decision-making are disrupted. While you may not be able to control the situation around you, you can help your child feel safe by working together and focusing on what matters most. Put Your Child’s Safety First If conditions change quickly, be prepared to adjust parenting schedules as needed. Temporary flexibility may be necessary if evacuation orders, road closures, or hazardous air quality make travel...

Parents of school-age children often sense when something is off: a child who works hard yet falls behind, or a child who finishes assignments quickly but still feels underfed by the day. Learning difficulties can look like confusion, avoidance, or constant frustration, and the usual classroom routines don’t always leave room for the pace or support a child needs. At the same time, expanding knowledge beyond the classroom can feel intimidating when parents are already managing full schedules and mixed messages about what “help” should be. With the right kind of support for struggling learners, child education challenges become clearer and more manageable. Quick Summary: Supporting Learning at Home Create a supportive home...