The Power of Fun

• The Hippocampus is part of our brain that regulates stress and enhances memory
• In times of stress, it actually shrinks so it has less ability to regulate stress so that we start forgetting stuff
• Find fun and creative distractions away from the behaviors of challenging children and other stressors…
• Sporting event?
• Art class?
• Take a walk in the neighborhood together…if you are in conflict, it often helps to get a breath of fresh air and the pressure of the neighbors hearing you might just keep you from saying the thing you can’t unsay…
• Curiosity: what is your loved one interested in that you might rock their world if you took an interest too…keep it safe and don’t turn this opportunity for connection into a place for criticism or unhealthy competition
• Remember our friend the hippocampus? Stretching, stretching…

The Power of “No”

• The Hippocampus is part of our brain that regulates stress and enhances memory
• In times of stress, it actually shrinks so it has less ability to regulate stress so that we start forgetting stuff
• Here’s some tried and true and proven by scientists ways to help our hippocampus by nurturing the most important and often overlooked relationship in our lives…
• Say No to Others so that you can say Yes to those who matter most!!
• Filter through the busy and make your relationships a priority
• You owe it to yourself, each other and your family
• Time together is a necessity, not a guilty pleasure
• Remind each other of areas where you have common ground
• Make this time something that you look forward to and see as necessary as a protection for all of the hard stuff that is out of your control
• Bottom line…time together is a healthy habit!!