The holidays tend to get people in the spirit of giving. You might be preparing a list of gifts to give, scheduling time to host or attend dinner parties, or arranging travel itineraries to see your loved ones. It is common to go out of your way during the holiday season to show family, loved ones, friends, and co-workers that you care about them. Gift giving and holiday festivities should be fun and joyful. But if you feel yourself getting overly stressed, take a step back and prioritize the most meaningful pieces of your holiday — one of those being your own wellbeing.

My six-year-old son doesn’t seem to have any appreciation for the gifts we get him. It’s especially bad around the holidays. He’s not grateful, pouts if it is not exactly what he wants, and sometimes even asks for more. I’ve tried to explain to him that his behavior isn’t polite and that he should be happy with what he has, which is plenty, but it’s not changing. What do I do?

Lately, I have been feeling that one of my friends is taking advantage of me. Every time she calls it is always about her. I don't mind being an ear to listen but it is starting to get exhausting. I am also going through some big life changes but she never asks how I am doing. I am not sure how to set this boundary or even bring it up to her. I don't think she even realizes she is doing it. Where should I go from here?

I am a state human service employee, currently working with parents who I believe need one-on-one coaching. There are parenting classes offered through some of our state programs, but I think the parents need more one-on-one help on how to positively engage and encourage their children. The idea of coaching came to my mind. I didn’t know that such a profession existed until I started researching online. Can you explain more about this type of service, when to use it, and how to access?

With the holidays coming up I tend to run myself thin. I do it every year! I end up with a packed calendar and I tend to go overboard with everything because I want the holidays to be special for everyone. At the same time my husband's workload picks up so I end up doing more around the house and more with the kids. I can already feel the anxiety and exhaustion coming. How do I better manage all of this? 

Foster and adoptive care is the epitome of living and loving up close. It’s feet to the ground, money-where-our-mouths-are, real investment type of work. There is nothing more real than welcoming a child, teen, or young adult into your home and walking a healing journey with them.

We are looking at options to help our 15-year-old son who has many continuous problems. He is stealing, lying, and cheating. He had violent outbursts when he’s confronted. He self-harms, has inappropriate sexual behaviors, fights, lack of empathy and more. What is our best solution for these behaviors?

In October, I was able to experience a joyous and long-awaited occasion - a three-day in-person retreat. It became evident that Zoom can never replace the connectedness that results from spending time with another person. As the days get shorter and people tend to go into hibernation mode, there is a risk that the loneliness people already feel will be exacerbated and raised to new levels. I ask you to join me in combatting loneliness by being a “reach out warrior.”

As we enter into the busy season of the holidays, it is more important than ever to practice self-care. I often receive questions this time of year from individuals who are stressed or feeling depressed. My advice is to stay in tune with your feelings and focus on positive actions that support your mental health

Nexus-FACTS Family Healing Clinical Director Luke Spiegelhoff joined KSTP's Minnesota Live to talk about how social media affects our teens and their mental health.