Patrick Ward, PhD » Family

Being Present for the Presents

Patrick Ward — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:20:23 +0000

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What if we treated our family this way?

Patrick Ward — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:47:34 +0000

Last time we stayed at Fairfield Inn my wife remarked about the card on our pillow “wouldn’t this be great we treated each other like this?” The card had a promise on it. It read “We promise to always… Continue

Putting Some “Thanks” in Your Thanksgiving

Patrick Ward — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:53:15 +0000

There is a special field of research in psychology called “positive psychology” that studies the “science of gratitude.” Positive psychology has been around for a while, but recently it has gained credibility under the scrutiny of science. Scientists have made important discoveries about thankfulness. Research has actually shown that practicing thankfulness decreases depression and anxiety! Its all explained in a book by Robert Emmons called “Thanks!: How the new science of gratitude can make you happier.” Continue

Managing the Media in your Home

Patrick Ward — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:48:55 +0000

What would your life be like if television, the internet, and computers suddenly didn’t work anymore? The amount of uneasiness you have in reaction to that question is a good indicator of how influential electronic media is in your life. Most of us remember the days when there was no Internet and the television offered about 12 channels. What is more, we had to get up and change the television channels manually! Now the choices for what to watch are overwhelming. Continue

Thoughts on parenting, God, and fish tanks.

Patrick Ward — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:14:13 +0000

Parents are given the responsibility to create an environment for their children in which to grow and thrive. God created the concept of the family as a place for children and adults experience life to its fullest. Parents create this environment for their family. I’m going to use a metaphor to illustrate my point. A fish tank is a man-made environment for fish. If the environment in the fish tank is toxic, the fish will die. The fish are not created for the fish tank, but the fish tank was created for the fish. I cannot become angry at my fish for not thriving in the environment I created for them. They can’t just conform to the environment if it’s toxic to them! If I truly value the fish, I have to change the environment to suit their needs. The fish tank is made for them, not them for the fish tank. In the same way, the family environment is made for the children (adult children included). Continue

Mother’s Day

Patrick Ward — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:00:46 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! Nobody loves us like our mothers, right? The quote “A face only a mother could love” is a testament to the staying power of motherly love. A mother’s love and nurturing are often taken for granted. Remembering the significance of mothers in our society is a big reason that mother’s day was first established by Anna Marie Jarvis. She was a West Virginian by the way. Continue

Parenting the Aspergers Child

Patrick Ward — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:40:55 +0000

Parents of children with Asperger’s Syndrome have a particularly challenging role to play. To begin, the diagnosis is difficult to make. Asperger’s Syndrome can be understood generally as a severe and chronic impairment in social interaction and the development of rigid behavior patterns, restricted interests, and activities. While this “label” has become more common knowledge in the last 10 years, the disorder is not new. There is an increased awareness of the syndrome, which hopefully leads to more effective treatment and support for those who need it. A label or diagnosis is only useful if it helps secure the support and treatments to improve one’s quality of life. Continue

More About Protecting Your Kids

Patrick Ward — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:34:02 +0000

A Mid-Ohio Valley Parent Magazine reader suggested that I add to last month’s column on protecting children from sexual abuse by discussing some concerns more specific to teenagers. This is a good point. As children age, the parents become less of a constant presence and the children require less supervision. This growing independence for teens is natural, but also presents some risks. While we can’t always be present to guide our children safely through life, we can teach them, negotiate with them and provide open lines of communication. Continue

The Structured Separation Agreement

Patrick Ward — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:34:49 +0000

Occasionally in my practice there is a couple I am working with that are “stuck” and if they continue to stay together they will definitely hurt their chances of perpetual marital bliss. Yet, divorce is not something I encourage though for some it becomes a decision they must make. Sometimes it is helpful for the couple to agree to “trial separation.” In this post you will learn a way to go about a structured or trial separation. Continue

Protecting Our Children Against Sexual Abuse

Patrick Ward — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:21:29 +0000

Did you know there are 161 registered sex offenders in Wood County? The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Parkersburg is 264 to 1. Because this month’s issue is about healthy and safe kids, I think this is a great time to learn about how to discuss sexual abuse with your children and how to protect children against sexual abuse. Continue