I recently started going to fitness classes again. It's been a long time since I stepped into a gym space and even longer since my reasons for being there have changed. This time, I chose classes because I want to build strength. Not shrink. Not compensate. Not “earn” my food. Just… strength. And that felt important. But something caught me off guard. As I moved through the class rotating between machines, following instructions, getting back into the rhythm of it all. I noticed the goals...

At first glance, keeping the peace at mealtimes feels like the kindest, most reasonable thing to do. Your child is distressed. The tension is rising. Everyone is on edge. So you step back. You soften expectations. You say, “Let’s just leave it for now.” And instantly — things feel better. The room calms and your child relaxes. You feel relief. But there’s something important happening beneath the surface. The Relief Trap In that moment, it’s not just you and your child experiencing relief....

It’s one of the most common concerns I hear from parents: “They eat fine at home… but won’t eat at school.” Lunchboxes come home untouched. Eating takes forever. Or it just doesn’t happen at all. It can be confusing — and often frustrating — especially when it looks like your child is “choosing” not to eat. But in my experience, it’s rarely that simple. For many children, particularly those with ARFID or ADHD, eating at school isn’t just about food. It’s about sensory overwhelm, anxiety,...