• 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…