Resources for parents and caregivers
READ • REFLECT • TRY SOMETHING NEW
Parenting and caring for others can bring up a lot of questions. Here are a few places to begin, whether you’re trying to understand your child’s behavior, find a steadier way to set boundaries, or make room for your own needs.
A PLACE TO BEGIN
Parenting patterns
Explore connection, boundaries and support through four familiar parenting patterns. These aren’t labels for you or your child. Each section offers a question to help you think about what is working and what might need attention.
From Julie’s blog
Thoughts and practical ideas for the everyday work of caring.
When your child has big feelings
In Learning How Your Child Communicates and Regulates, Julie looks at a parent helping a child through an emotional moment, and the support children need as they practice these skills.
When caring starts to wear you down
In Lightening the Load, Julie shares her experience of caregiving, recognizing limits, and finding support, alongside practical ways to make the load more manageable.
FINDING SUPPORT
Support beyond this page
You do not have to find every answer on your own. These resources offer a few places to begin with school, caregiving and everyday needs.
These links lead to independent organizations.
Navigating school supports
When the school process feels overwhelming, Understood’s step-by-step IEP guide can help you understand the choices, gather your questions and prepare to speak up for your child.
Explore Understood’s IEP Guide for Parents →
Getting ready to meet with your school? Try the school meeting preparation sheet.
Connecting with another caregiver
If you are caring for someone with a developmental disability or special health care need, Parent to Parent of NYS offers a chance to connect with a caregiver who understands some of what you are carrying.
Grandparents and kinship caregivers
Begin with Grandfamilies: Finding Your Footing, a gentle activity for choosing one priority, organizing information, and finding support.
When you are raising a grandchild or another relative’s child, NYS Kinship Navigator’s resource map can help you look for support in your county as you find your way in this role.
Making room for yourself
When you have been giving so much to others, this five-minute Self-Compassion Break from Berkeley’s Greater Good in Action offers a way to pause and practice a little kindness toward yourself.
Finding help close to home
If food, housing, transportation or other everyday needs are taking up your energy, 211 Mid-York can help you find services in Madison, Oneida and Herkimer counties.
PAUSE, NOTICE, TAKE A STEP
A little space to reflect
A few notes can help you notice what matters and choose a place to begin. Try the prompts below in a notebook, or print a one-page sheet.
Each PDF is one page, ready to print and write on.
Family check-in
Make a little room to listen to one another, notice what is working and choose one small thing to try together.
- What felt good lately?
- What has felt hard?
- What would help you feel heard or supported?
- What is one small thing we agree to try?
School meeting preparation
Gather your child’s strengths, your observations and the questions you want to bring so there is room for what matters to your family.
- What does my child enjoy or do well?
- What am I noticing?
- What do I want to understand?
- What was agreed, and who will take each step?
Open the school meeting sheet (PDF) →
Explore the deeper school meeting toolkit sample →
More preparation prompts, a fictional example and a follow-up tracker. A resource concept, not currently for sale.
A manageable next step
Start with the week you actually have, and choose a step that fits your energy, time and available support.
- What needs my attention most?
- What is draining my energy?
- Who or what could help?
- What small action will I try, and when?
Something you’d like to talk through?
If your questions center on parenting, school concerns or family communication, explore Parent Map coaching. If you are looking for space to consider your own direction and balance as a parent or caregiver, explore Guided Path to Success.
You do not have to choose a path before reaching out. Contact Julie with a question.