Some kids are in school full-time or in a hybrid model, and some may be attending daycare while parents are working. Initially, the new normal of wearing a mask may have been a difficult process for them to understand. By now, most children are quite used to the experience. For those still struggling, it’s critical to validate their frustration and irritation while also gently yet firmly reminding them of the need to continue the practice of wearing a mask.

With potential vaccines on the horizon, public health experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci have urged Americans to continue taking measures to protect themselves and others from the spread of COVID-19. One of the best and simplest ways to do this is by wearing a mask. Here in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker recently issued an order requiring the use of face masks at all times while in public, outdoors as well as indoors,

As a psychologist who works with people struggling with weight issues, I spend a lot of time thinking about the relationship between emotions and food. If you have gained some extra pounds during the COVID pandemic, I have some suggestions about how to deal with weight gain based on your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Some ways we think about our weight and ourselves are helpful, but others can work against you.

Patients often tell me that they don’t see themselves as emotional eaters,