Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently declared children’s mental health is a national crisis.

In December 2021,Dr.Murthy issued a report to highlight the additional pressures the COVID- 19 pandemic(流行病)had put on the country’s youth, and the urgent need to address this. The impact of this crisis is far-reaching, and new research shows that it’s affecting parents’well-being, plus their ability to succeed at work and provide for their families.

“On Our Sleeves, a national movement that aims to break shame around children’s mental health, surveyed more than 3,000 working parents across the US and found that eight in 10 parents are very concerned about their child’s mental health and development or behavior in the past two years. Children’s mental health concerns have been hiding in plain sight for many years, surrounded by confusion and shame,”says Marti Bledsoe Post, the director of On Our Sleeves.

The survey found that 53% of working parents have missed work at least once per month to deal with their children’s mental health. And 71% of parents said issues with their child’s mental or emotional well-being made the stresses of work much more difficult to cope with.

“Employers need to know that many of their employees are struggling and it impinging their work as a result,”says Bledsoe Post.“Our mission with On Our Sleeves is to provide every family in America access to free, evidence-based educational resources. We see this study as incredibly important in starting the conversation and providing solutions for working families.”

As Morin points out, for some parents, taking a child to weekly treating appointments, attending and meetings at school consumes a lot of time. These parents should be helped, but how?

My grandma, Elena, pulled me on stage for our routine to entertain the crowd. At five years old, I needed no encouragement to perform. Like my grandma, formerly a professional dancer, I loved the spotlight, and soon became addicted to the applause (鼓掌).

I was Grandma’s willing partner, always ready to kick off a show with her on stage. Each week, Grandma came to my parents’ home so that we could practice our performances. “Choose whatever you like,” Grandma said. “You can wear whatever you want.”

Grandma didn’t mind at all if I chose to wear high-heeled shoes on stage. To her, I was a natural performer. Wearing them was simply considered as artistic expression. On my first night on stage, I dressed up as Madonna in a white skirt, singing a song of her and I won many praises.

One year, after being attracted by the movie 101 Dalmatians, I decided to act Cruella de Vil, a role in it. Performing on the stage with my black frock (连衣裙), a handbag and a cigarette holder, I enjoyed the audience’s laughter, and it was like music to my ears. “You’re a natural actor,” Grandma said after the show.

Today, I always perform at the hugely popular theatre. Going up on stage feels like being at home. That’s how I make a living and I find the place where I belong. In July this year, I headed to the Gold Coast, where Grandma lives. Now 95 and still my biggest fan, she saw me perform my new act for the first time and loved it.

She has been my lifelong inspiration and support, but I can never repay her. She always loved me for who I was and now, I’m finally the person who I was always meant to be.

Strangers Under the Same Roof

Does every dinner with your parents seem to turn into an argument? Have your once warm and open conversations become cold and guarded? Do you feel that you just cannot see eye to eye with them on anything? You are not alone. Heated arguments and cold silences are common between teenagers and their parents.

Teenagers’ physical changes may result in such family tensions. You may feel anxious that you are not developing at the same rate as your friends, shooting up in height or getting left far behind. You might worry about your changing voice, weight problems or spots(粉刺). When the worries get too much, your parents are often the first target of your anger.

It can be a big headache to balance your developing mental needs too. You enter a strange middle ground—no longer a small child but not quite an adult. You have both a new desire for independence and a continued need for your parents’ love and support. You feel ready to be more responsible and make decisions on your own. Unfortunately, your parents do not always agree and that makes you feel unhappy. Sometimes they forget that growing up is a rough ride. It can be difficult when your parents treat you like a child but expect you to act like an adult. All of this can lead to a breakdown in your relationship. 

Despite the fact that sometimes it may seem impossible to get along as a family, you can take action to improve the situation. The key to keeping the peace is regular and honest communication. Just remember that it is completely normal to struggle with the stress that parent-child tensions create, and that you and your parents can work together to improve your relationship. The good news is that this stormy period will not last. Everything will turn out all right in the end, and the changes and challenges of your teenage years will prepare you for adulthood.