Toddler has anxiety, mom at wit's end
by Mary Follin and Erika Guerrero
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THE PROBLEM: My three-year old daughter has been diagnosed with anxiety. Her doctor says he is seeing anxiety and depression show up in earlier years than ever before. Why is this? We do everything we can to make her feel safe. My husband and I tell her we love her all the time, we let her choose the things she likes (within reason), and we don’t let her watch scary shows. Anytime she’s upset, we try and soothe her and talk her through it, as best as one can with a three-year-old. Her anxiety shows up in temper tantrums and fearful crying, so we’re constantly feeling on thin ice with her, anticipating what might upset her and trying to avoid it. She’s afraid to be alone in her room, so she sleeps with us, which doesn’t make for the best night’s sleep for any of us. Help!

Son picks on younger sibling, mom worried about psychological impact
by Mary Follin and Erika Guerrero
​Read more ASK MOM on Fredericksburg Parent & Family ​

THE PROBLEM: My older son (14) picks on his little brother (9). It’s not out-and-out bullying, just belittling remarks, like, “I see you have your shirt on backwards again, dummy.” I’m worried about this because their father isn’t in the picture, and I’m afraid my little one won’t have a male role model to look up to. (I think that’s partly what’s going on with my older son.) I have two other children (daughters), and he’s actually pretty nice to them most of the time. So not only is my youngest getting picked on, he’s also getting left out. I don’t know what to do.