Parenting Archives - Linda Seiford, Ph.D.

People are More Than a Diagnosis

My fingers tightly gripped the charcoal-colored pen as I removed the pale piece of paper from the clipboard. I quickly glanced at both sides to assess just how long this task would take. I hate these forms. I understand the need for records, but it simply is not possible to include a rather involved and […]

The Agony of Anxiety

As my suntanned foot slowly edged its way to the dusty accelerator, I could feel his body tense. My hands firmly gripped the steering wheel as I began the right-hand turn. I glanced toward the passenger seat, my insides in knots, while trying to maintain a calm outer appearance. There, my adult son, my gentle […]

Through the Eyes of a Child: Do You See What I See?

I am the mother of two spectacular sons who followed very different paths of development. One was typically developing and the other had special needs. Now adults, they have forged their own paths – each a bright light in the world. Both have taught me incredible lessons along the way. While their methods may have […]

Perception and the Pandemic: Honest Answers to Difficult Questions

As we walked along, silence blanketed our little duo. We literally were within an arm’s length of one another, but figuratively we were worlds apart. We moved along, matching our gaits, but deeply entrenched in our own thoughts. The pandemic was weighing heavily on my mind. I could only guess that it was occupying some […]

The Words of Summer

I love words. I love spelling them. I love reading them. I love speaking them. They are powerful – magical. These combinations of little sounds can evoke extraordinary emotion. Words can start and end relationships. They can trigger instantaneous changes in mood. They can touch us at our very core. On some level, I knew […]

Welcome to Hats and Boxes

Let me paint you a picture. It was very early on a crisp, Sunday morning in Minnesota. I was snuggled under the blankets not wanting to venture out into the chilly bedroom air. Even though it was 25 degrees outside and the first snow of the season had just fallen, I was wearing my summer […]