Nobody needs a study to tell them being a single parent is tough. “This is a group of people who are kind of carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders, right?” said Dr. Natalie Stokes, a cardiology fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “You’re taking care of kids. You’re trying to ...

Confession: I have no idea how I’m going to do my Christmas shopping this year. Yes, I still like shopping in a store. No, I’m not a total curmudgeon. I’m a GenXer – an Xennial, if you go for micro-generational labels. We sailed through the analog-to-digital era; this should not be a problem! And while ...

A sore back. That stiff joint. Another headache. With so much time being spent at home, you’re probably noticing more of your daily aches and pains. Many people tend to envision pain only impacting older people, and while everyone’s pain is unique, you might be surprised to learn that pain impacts younger generations just as ...

Homework is a big part of a child’s school day, whether school is composed completely of remote instruction or a hybrid of in-person and online learning. If your child is struggling to adapt, providing a supportive environment and establishing a productive routine can help them thrive. When school has shifted to home, everything feels like homework, ...

Christmas Eve 2013: I was driving from my parent’s house where we exchanged presents and stuffed ourselves with good “Mom-Mom” food. I was heading to drop my kids off at their father’s house where they would wake up to Santa's splendor.

Regina Philipps’ son, Shane, was born a happy, healthy and strong baby — holding his head up on his own, rolling, and pushing himself up on his arms. But at six months old, Regina noticed something might be wrong. “He started moving less, and some of the strength he had seemed to be disappearing,” said ...

Being a parent is incredibly rewarding but also challenging, stressful and exhausting. There are plenty of ways to be a happier parent and enjoy the experience, no matter how overwhelming it may be. Focusing on being a happier parent is especially important during the pandemic, because a happy parent is more likely to have happy kids, said ...

UPMC Pinnacle officially opened its new pediatric inpatient unit at UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg last week. The Harrisburg-based health system announced early last month that it would be investing $17 million to expand its current inpatient pediatric care offerings on the hospital’s ninth floor to an entire children’s inpatient unit. The system announced on Tuesday that ...

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Stress levels are rising due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous disruptions in our daily lives. The American Psychological Association recently reported that “we are facing a national mental health crisis that could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come.” And it’s not just adults who ...