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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 1d

Want to be an emotionally safe parent?
✔️ Stay connected without smothering
✔️ Set loving boundaries
✔️ Be the parent, not just a friend
✔️ Model healthy emotions

Kids thrive when they feel seen, safe & supported.

#howtofamily
#emotionalsupport
#parenting

firstthings.org/how-to-be-an...

How to Be an Emotionally Safe Parent

We often focus on our kids' physical safety, but what about emotional safety? Here are thoughts on how to be an emotionally safe parent.

firstthings.org

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 3d

Young brains don’t have the capacity to correctly process adult content. Since the internet is uncensored, you have to censor for them. Don’t let them into the wild west unprotected. Supervise screen time. Set parent controls. Block inappropriate sites. It takes effort, but the payoff is invaluable.

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 5d

Last week was about the masks you wear in your family.

This week: What are you doing that might make someone else wear a mask around you?

Pay attention to your words, jokes, and judgments. Hard work—but it matters. Share what you notice.

#maskswewear
#howtofamily

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 8d

Dr. Ken Ginsburg coined “lighthouse parenting” — a powerful alternative to helicopter and snowplow styles. It’s all about raising resilient, self-sufficient kids. 💡 Check out his book Lighthouse Parenting and drop your thoughts below!

#howtofamily
#lighthouseparenting
#helicopterparenting
#parents

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 10d

A thought: If you reduce the number of people you follow, will you be less likely to reach for your phone? Let’s test it. Go through your list and eliminate a handful of people. Tell me if it helps control your screen addiction.

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 12d

This October, let’s talk about real masks—the ones we wear in our families.

Ask yourself:
What choices or parts of yourself are unwelcome in your family—so much so that people hide them?

This week’s step: Reflect on what’s been masked in your family.

#FamilyHealing
#MasksWeWear
#howtofamily

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 18d

Reality check! Go to Settings and take a look at your screen time use. How are you doing? How many hours has your neck bent over your phone this week? If you see some improvement, share your tips here for others who are trying to kick the habit.

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 22d

I love this article out of NDSU by Sean Brotherson and colleagues. Not only is it readable and relatable, but it also provides a self-reflection exercise that helps you explore the type of grandparent you’d like to be. Enjoy!

www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/...

#howtofamily
#grandparents

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 24d

Where has this been all my life? These brilliant people have answered the screen addiction problem. I’m prescribing this to every single family in my practice. And you. I’m prescribing it to you. TAKE BACK YOUR TIME!

getbrick.app

Brick - Do More of What Matters

Brick LLC

getbrick.app

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 26d

Hey grandparents! Raising your grandkids is tough, but you’re doing something amazing. A few things to keep in mind:
You’re not as young as before, and that’s okay.
Kids may get frustrated – it’s normal.
This experience is a gift they’ll carry into adulthood.

You’ve got this!

#grandparents

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · 29d

This week’s book rec: *Being a Distance Grandparent* by Helen Ellis — a heartfelt, insightful guide to grandparenting across miles in a post-COVID world. Packed with touching stories, timeless wisdom, and fascinating cultural insights. A must-read!

#grandparents
#howtofamily

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 18

Choose a night this week to go out to dinner with your family. Then do something crazy: Leave all devices at home. Crazy, I know! You’ll have to get there without navigation. You won’t be able to scan the QR code for the menu. You won’t know the scores of any games. And you’ll love it.

#screenless

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 16

Grandparents are the historians of our villages. You carry crucial institutional memory! Tell us the stories. We need to know where we came from.

#howtofamily
#thevillage
#grandparents

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 14

In this clip from The Bearded Dad’s podcast, I share how my clients heal political rifts—not by changing minds, but by owning their beliefs and meeting others with compassion. Real growth happens in the discomfort of disagreement.

#howtofamily
#politics

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 13

Just found the sweetest book series: How to Babysit a Grandma & How to Babysit a Grandpa. It flips the script — showing kids that time with grandparents is an adventure, not a chore.

Check them out! And, more importantly, go make some unforgettable memories with your grandkids!

#howtofamily

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 11

The families that are successfully controlling their screen use are doing three things: (1) setting and enforcing limits, (2) having regular conversations about the pros and cons of the internet, and (3) eating dinner together.

Set the boundaries and enjoy the closeness.

#howtofamily

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 8

Grandparents, your role as a mentor is one of the most powerful gifts you can offer. Unlike a parent or boss, a mentor guides with wisdom, patience, and no judgment—just honest insight and quiet support. Share your perspective, then let your loved ones grow in their own time.

#howtofamily

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 7

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 7

I’ve often been asked how and why I came to be a family therapist. Check out this clip of my engaging conversation on Joe Dimino‘s podcast, Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino, where I share my origin story.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTOZ...

#howtofamily
#therapy
#podcasts

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 6

You MUST check out Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen. What a hilarious, heartwarming, relatable telling of the true lives of grandparents! You’ll read story after story of the blessings, hardships, and conundrums that come with grandparenthood. It’s my latest must-read.

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yikes! I’m getting more and more referrals in my practice for families plagued by screen addictions. The digital enemy is real! Parents, set good examples for your kids and get your own screen use under control first. You have to walk your talk before you impose rules on them.

#howtofamily

Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Sep 2

Sunday is Grandparents’ Day! 💛 This week’s (late) Monday post is dedicated to the incredible grandparents in our villages—the mentors, caregivers, and storytellers who shape our children and communities. Let’s show them some love this Sunday!

#howtofamily
#grandparents

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Aug 31

I grew up with three siblings, so I love talking about sibling subsystems. They teach us how to relate to peers and protect us from adults. In a healthy sibling subsystem, it’s safe and fun to just be a kid.

#howtofamily
#siblings

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Aug 29

Today’s book rec is a gem: My Brain Books by Larissa Davidson! As a former neuroscience teacher (and brain dissection nerd 😅), I’ve searched everywhere for a kid-friendly way to explain brain science—and these books nail it. Finally, someone got it right. Parents & educators, check them out!

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Angela Caldwell, MFT @angelacaldwell.bsky.social · Aug 27

What if we all rebelled one day and hurled our social media accounts into the void? Would the misinformation dry up, starved of its feeding frenzy, shriveling into a shell of its former self? A girl can dream…

#socialmedia
#howtofamily