Have you been enjoying your summer? Well KTSD sure hopes you have!

Need some tips on where to go or how to make the most of the sun? KTSD has you there too!

Whether you, your child, parent, or sibling needs a handy guide on what our community has to offer, let us share some fun things you can do to make the most of your summer!

1. The Beach! 
   1. With so many options, you’re bound to have a full-day adventure! From Imperial Beach to La Jolla Cove to Oceanside, there is a scene right for you and your family. Do you want to bring the fur babies too? Great idea, go ahead and visit Del Mar or Ocean Beach’s dog beach!
2. Run Back in Time…
   1. Feel like discovering more about the area’s history? With many accommodating options, there are dozens of museums and exhibits to check out! A popular destination to meet all needs is Old Town! Attractions like shops, restaurants, and activities are accessible with hours available via their website and ready for you to visit.
3. Paint and Clay
   1. If you’re feeling in touch with your inner artist and want a fun activity to harness it, paint-your-own-pottery studios are available for some family fun. Places like Color Me Mine, The Hotspot, and CeramiCafe all offer services to get hands-on and invested in artistry.
4. A Late Night Out
   1. Looking for something a little out of the box? Whether it’s an outdoor movie or a live band, you have options! Cinema Under The Stars can offer a unique and fun movie experience, while venues like The Music Box and The House of Blues can provide an intimate musical experience. Looking for the next level? The San Diego Symphony offers showtimes and experiences throughout the year for those devoted music connoisseurs. 
5. Peace and Tranquility
   1. Sometimes a low-key day is a more suitable speed, so consider these options. A hike can be a perfect balance between activity and reserve. You can also decide to tune into your spirit and pick up a yoga class at a studio near you like CorePower Yoga or The Yogabox. Maybe you’re looking for mind rejuvenation instead of physical. In that case, consider a library cafe or animal cafe to add some spice to your morning coffee. 

Something you can do any day, any hour of the summer is appreciate the people around you. If none of these activities sound like your cup of tea, make a fun choice and be a stroke of sunshine for yourself and your family this summer. 

Smile more, and worry less. Happy Summer!

What is sweet as far as you can see?

Well, that’s what June ought to be!

As it is National Candy Month, 

It is important to remind yourself what is sweet,

So much in life, is a treat!

Maybe your favorite person is your daughter,

Or you really appreciate your father!

More than all the gumdrops in the world, 

You love your baby boy or girl. 

Whether it is your mother, father, sister, or brother,

This month you can share how you love one another.

The mind and body depend on one another. 

For one system to perform to the best of its ability, the other must be in good condition. Just as exercise is crucial for the maintenance of the physical system, an array of variables contribute to the well-being of the mental system. When any one component falls short, the rest fall into disorder.

Any number of things can disturb one’s mental health, from relationships, employment, and social media, to a difficult project at school or a bad sports practice. As mental health can be largely affected by our surrounding environment, a divorce can have detrimental effects on a healthy mind. 

When the worst of my parent’s divorce happened, I was in 7th grade. From about 12 – 13, my mental health was at an all-time low. Think of all the things that make one’s middle school experience challenging. One’s body is making changes never made before, some start new schools, some make new friends, and all have at least one thing they’re insecure about. For some it’s the most difficult time of their lives. On top of my predisposed hurdles, I had to switch houses every weekend, go to a family therapist to deal with more problems, and be the middleman for a relationship that wasn’t my own. In simple terms, I was exhausted, burnt out, and sad. 

May is often a transitional month for many children’s lives, as the school year is coming to a close, spring turns to summer, and many are close to getting a break. Whether you’re burnt out, your child is sad, or your relationships are exhausted, take a moment this month to reflect. Take a moment to listen to your mind. 

Every person has a burden that weighs on them. Listening to your needs on both sides, the physical and the mental, helps the body to reach and maintain a balance.

This is one of the reasons it’s so important to take time, to take a breath, during May, during whichever month, to encourage peace of mind. A divorce is one more barrier between oneself reaching that mindfulness. Whether you are a parent or a child struggling through it, don’t let divorce get in the way of your mental health. Utilizing the tools around you is a great place to start. 

KTSD helped me work through those residing mental blocks, and they could help you too. When your life is overwhelming and your mind is overworked, be the change of pace to make your world better.

Start making good habits by breaking bad ones, and be the growth for your family.  

Alien. 

What does that word make you think of?

For some, unknown green creatures come to mind. Others think of the mysterious Area 51, or the kind gentle alien representation, E.T. Some have a negative affiliation with the word, recalling a time a family member, friend, or themselves was referenced by the term.

Alienating.

Building from our previous meaning for the word alien, what would you think “alienating” means to a little kid?

When I was 10, these terms were synonymous. So, when my dad screamed the word  in my face, I was confused. I couldn’t believe I was being called an alien. I had never watched “E.T.”, I knew I didn’t come from Area 51, and I was positive I wasn’t green. Nevertheless, that comment made me feel like a lesser human. When I questioned him, asking what he meant by that, his reply was, “Your mom is alienating you from me. In fact, you’re alienating yourself.” 

I was told that my mom was trying to make me into an alien, and I was too.

As April is National Parental Alienation Month, it’s important, especially now, to take time to understand what the word truly means, how it impacts your children and why avoiding the word is critical. 

Based on the Oxford dictionary, alienation is a noun meaning, “the state or experience of being isolated from a group or an activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved.” 

After therapy and years of help, I realized the repercussions of what my dad had said, and most of all how untrue the statement was. 

From a child of a divorced family that was confused by a parent using the word “alienating”, here’s my perspective. Alienating should not be weaponized; It should not be used to hurt your loved ones. As a child of divorce, oftentimes I would fall in the middle of an argument, or be the center of it. Being in the middle of one more problem, only pushed me further into confusion and isolation. 

To all the parents reading this blog, I encourage you – 

Be the change for your family or your child by building instead of breaking.

Kids’ Turn San Diego helped my family learn, and helped me heal. 

Start making good habits by breaking bad ones, and be the growth for your family.  

Living a positive, successful life is unattainable without gratitude. 

Often described as appreciation, gratitude is demonstrating thankfulness for someone or something in your life. Gratitude can also be used as a coping mechanism, often helping with emotion and stress regulation. For those like me, a child of divorce, gratitude is an especially necessary skill and mindset to implement in daily life.

This year, Kids’ Turn San Diego’s Garden of Gratitude campaign represents the overarching process of giving thanks. Building your garden of gratitude takes time and effort, but can start with something as simple as saying thank you. In the heat of my parents’ divorce, attending the Family Workshop at KTSD helped me grow through gratitude. This began my metamorphosis, like the butterfly in KTSD’s garden, with the hope to encourage growth and reflection in me, my parents, and my sibling.

In 2020, when I began my KTSD journey, I was at an all time low. It was increasingly challenging for me to feel connected to my community. I believed nobody around me resonated with my feelings, or wanted to. When I joined the Family Workshop program,  I was encouraged to interact with kids my age who felt similarly, and we learned and practiced many skills. It was crucial for me to gain understanding and perspective on my situation in relation to others, as that helped me practice gratitude. Suddenly, I was grateful to have at least one parent that reached out to understand me. I was grateful to have a sibling, someone who believed in me, who I could believe in as well. I was grateful to have a program that showed me I’m not alone. All of those components together propelled me into my biggest stage of development.

Metamorphosis is often a symbol used to represent a big change in behavior or thinking, ultimately showing growth into maturation or adulthood. For me, KTSD helped change metamorphosis from a symbol to an outcome, as my experience helped me grow in wisdom, as well as perspective. 

From all the lessons I received from KTSD, the biggest takeaway I had was to give grace to myself and others around me suffering. Hold your loved ones tighter, give a smile to a stranger, say thank you when someone helps you… Thank you to the Group Leaders at KTSD for planting seeds and helping me become the beautiful butterfly I am today. 

This Valentine’s Day we invite you to nurture the broken hearts in your home by choosing to leave conflict in the past and look toward the future of investing in your children and their long term emotional well-being.