The Psychologist Next Door | Heidi Smith Luedtke

10 Things I Know Right Now

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on November 16, 2012
Categories: Beliefs, Books, Detachment Parenting, Emotion, Parenting, self-awareness

My latest article, entitled “little know-it-alls,” came out yesterday in the December issue of Parents magazine. The idea for this piece came from a real-life Mommy moment, when I questioned my son Carson’s discovery of a “shark pod” on the Jersey Shore. If you read the article – go ahead and click over there, I’ll… [read more]

Signed Detachment Parenting Paperbacks

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on November 14, 2012
Categories: Books, Detachment Parenting, Emotion, Parenting, People Skills, Relationships, Self-Care, Stress and Coping

Thanks to everyone who made my book launch so successful yesterday. Detachment Parenting: 33 Ways to Keep Your Cool When Kids Melt Down is ranked #58 in its category for Amazon Kindle books! It is so gratifying to make these techniques available to other parents — I appreciate each one of you who took time… [read more]

Video Intro to Detachment Parenting by Author Heidi Smith Luedtke

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on November 13, 2012
Categories: Books, Detachment, Detachment Parenting, Emotion, Parenting, People Skills, Relationships

Woo Hoo!!! Launch day is finally here! I’m so excited to tell you what Detachment Parenting is all about. Watch my intro video to get the inside scoop: I’ll be making the rounds on social media today revealing more about the detachment parenting approach and answering the question you’re dying to ask: “Is Detachment… [read more]

Announcing the Official Launch of Detachment Parenting

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on November 10, 2012
Categories: Books, Detachment, Detachment Parenting, Emotion, Parenting, Stress and Coping

With only 3 days left before the official launch of my first e-book, Detachment Parenting: 33 Ways to Keep Your Cool When Kids Melt Down, there’s a buzz of excitement in the air. And (yes!) I have a checklist of last-minute tasks to accomplish. I feel a little like the scientists at NASA counting down… [read more]

The Parenting Time Warp: Counting the Days Until My Half-Birthday

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on November 1, 2012
Categories: Cognitive Psychology, mindfulness, Parenting, Uncategorized

As I made the rounds tick-or-treating with my kids last night, I was reminded of how different their time perspective is from mine. Neighbors asked each child “How old are you?” and both replied with precision: Scooby proudly said “Two and a half!” and her knight-in-shining armor added “And I’m five and a half!” No… [read more]

How to Handle Scary Suspenses

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on October 29, 2012
Categories: Emotion, Self-Care, Stress and Coping

Much of the northeastern United States is stuck in a tense state of suspense today, as we wait for Hurricane Sandy blow in. This kind of suspense can be hard to manage — you want to be well-prepared but you can’t plan for every possible peril. I’m sitting in my office right now wishing I… [read more]

No Mom is an Island

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on October 26, 2012
Categories: Friendship, Parenting, People Skills, Relationships, Self-Care, Stress and Coping, Uncategorized

It’s a bit of a paradox: Moms of young children seldom get any alone time. And yet — for many women — this stage of life feels lonely. Moms who stay home with young kids miss out on the friendships they had in the workplace. There’s no one around to commiserate when the kids are… [read more]

Why Grown-Ups Should Act Silly More Often

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on October 23, 2012
Categories: Emotion, Happiness 101, Parenting, Stress and Coping

One of the gifts young children give their parents is an endless supply of silly behavior. My daughter wears underwear on her head. And not just her own. My son shakes his booty when he dances, and acts like a backseat DJ when a thumping song comes on the radio, moving one hand like he’s… [read more]

Why We Should Tell Kids Learning is Difficult

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on October 19, 2012
Categories: Beliefs, Education, Motivation, Psychology Research, Self-confidence

Every parent wants to boost their child’s sense of optimism and self-confidence. But statements like “You’re so smart!” or “These problems are easy” might inadvertently undermine kids’ academic achievement. That’s because these phrases send the message that ability is fixed (you either have it or you don’t) and success should be effortless. A recent study… [read more]

Disappointed? Feel Your Way Forward

By Heidi Smith Luedtke on October 17, 2012
Categories: Detachment, Emotion, Happiness 101, mindfulness, Motivation, self-awareness

I like to focus on the positive whenever possible: Smiling activates good thoughts and feelings and sends welcoming signals to people around us. But constantly telling yourself to suck it up and act happy isn’t healthy. You (and I) have every right to feel let down, hurt, frustrated and angry sometimes. And it’s important that… [read more]