Naomi Campbell is a new mom! The 50-year-old model surprised the world with an Instagram post today, accompanying an image of her hands cradling tiny baby feet.
“A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother, So honoured to have this gentle soul in my life there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you my angel. There is no greater love,” she wrote in the caption.
A British model, actress and businesswoman, Campbell broke multiple barriers as the first black model on the cover of TIME, French Vogue and Russian Vogue. She’s appeared on more than 500 magazine covers and is also heavily involved in charity work. She supports the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and amFAR and founded Fashion for Relief, uniting the fashion industry to support those in adversity.
Last year Campbell told the New York Times, “I’ve always been raised, by my mother, my nana, the wonderful strong women in my family, from this strong ancestry to understand that, whatever I was going to do, I had to do it 110 percent.”
With today’s announcement, another strong woman joins the Campbell family! Congratulations to Naomi!
Whether currently, or at one time or another in our lives, I think most of us have experienced the feeling of not having control in a situation, or not knowing what to do, or what is the best decision to make. Perhaps you’ve felt helpless, emotionally overwhelmed, or as if you just couldn’t stand one more thing occurring. Being the mom of a child with profound special needs definitely generates those feelings in me on a frequent basis.
In my opinion, life is about learning to cherish every moment granted to us, especially the sorrowful or ordinary ones because each moment that passes us by holds eternal weight. I’ve identified three ways to encourage myself to retrain my daily focus—to learn, appreciate and soak up how each moment, happy or difficult adds value to the overall story of my life.
Seize the Day
How often do we tell ourselves that we will call our friend later, start eating healthy, focusing on self-care or we’ll start working on accomplishing that life-long dream when the timing is right—then never actually do it? It seems that we are always putting things off because we tell ourselves that we don’t have time right now. If the COVID quarantine has taught us anything it’s that ‘timing’ isn’t the issue. What we may be lacking is the motivation or confidence to live for today and identify the value in the little things.
Regardless of the challenges each day may bring, and with special needs children those can be unique and plentiful, remember your ‘Why.’ Each day presents an opportunity, whether it’s large or small to push ourselves to grow and learn and appreciate the now. That is my ‘why.’ By seizing the most out of each day, I’m modeling for my kids the importance of never settling and to keep seeking ways to turn lemons into lemonade.
Especially on days when I’ve lost my patience because my son has thrown his food to the floor and his hitting was at an all-time high, all while I was extremely sleep deprived, I recognize that how I handled those tough moments doesn’t define me or my entire day—but rather refines me and how I will handle adversity in the future. I instead choose to be grateful for the sweet family moments, random acts of kindness, laughter and the chance to experience it all again tomorrow.
Attitude Is Everything
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact a positive attitude has on one’s life. I truly believe a person’s attitude is more important than money, than failures or successes, and certainly more important than outward appearances and social-media profiles.
We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change how others act, the things they say (or post), or the inevitable outcome of many situations. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. We are in charge of our attitude!
I also hold onto a strong belief that everything happens for a reason. I wake up each day with the intention of smiling and laughing more while not wasting energy on gossip, negative thoughts, or things beyond my control. The benefit of maintaining a positive attitude (and constant resetting throughout the day if needed) is that when situations go awry it’s so much more productive to laugh and develop an alternative solution rather than being stressed and angry.
Stop & Appreciate the Beauty in & around You
It is so easy to become hypnotized by a daily routine and feel that everyday actions such as driving to work or coordinating therapy sessions are mundane and monotonous thus causing fatigue and burnout. I would wager that we don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.
We must remind ourselves that we are surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation and we ourselves are a part of that. Choose to focus on what you “get to” do versus what you “have to” do. Life is a gift, not an obligation.
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” ― Earl Nightingale
Halloween will be different this year, but out of adversity comes inspiration. Use it, don’t lose it—let’s get ultra creative, have fun with spooky season and play! While you’re trying to match your little’s costume with a facemask, Netflix has you covered, bringing the haunted house to you—BOO! Read on to learn more about this spooktacular invitation, so #NetflixHauntsYourHouse (but, like, in a fun way). See the details below and “RSVP!”
You’re Invited to a Virtual Halloween Event Like No Other
What: You and your little ghouls will see a range of familiar Netflix faces in various Halloween-themed environments as they come to life (virtually!) through Snapchat, turning your house into…a haunted house! Using A/R, you’ll discover a howling good time using Snapcodes.
When: You can now visit NetflixHauntsYourHouse.com to set up your experience. Then, on Hallow’s eve, your house will turn into a mystical, magical, spooktacular surprise for all to behold!
Where: Your house. (And you don’t even need to clean up!) Netflix will Haunt Your House for one day only, with a little help from you, a printer and Snapchat.
Who: Everyone and anyone that’s in your home. This “haunted house” is less about the frightful and more about the delightful Halloween spirit, so kids of all ages, including preschoolers, will enjoy it!
How:
Step 1: Go to NetflixHauntsYourHouse.com to download and print Halloween-themed Snapcodes to place around your house.
Step 2: Make sure you have the free Snapchat app downloaded on your phone.
Step 3: On Halloween, open your Snapchat camera and hold it up to the Snapcodes you placed around your house.
Step 4: Watch in awe with your family as your favorite Netflix characters come to life for some Halloween fun!
Knowing how to help a young child develop resilience is important to their emotional development, as every child will face some sort of challenge, adversity or change in their lives. We are all facing this currently as we continue to live through the adversity and challenges of COVID-19.
Resilience is one’s ability to adapt and overcome challenges and find strength through adversity. It is sometimes referred to as one’s ability to “bounce back” but I prefer to think of it more as our ability to survive, and even thrive, during a big change. All humans have this amazing capacity for survival through the most difficult and traumatic circumstances.
The following 5 tips can support and help your children build resilience and teach them new skills to get through challenging times:
1. Boundaries + Routines = Safety for young children
Children need routines and boundaries. It helps them feel stable, secure, and safe. As your schedule adapts and changes, make sure to leave plenty of time for free-play, but remember that creating a structure in their environment is something they still need you to do for them (this may be somewhat less-so with teenagers, but way more so with young children). You’ll notice how your children will relax into their days as things become more predictable for them. As children grow older they will learn to do this for themselves (create structure out of change and adapt to new routines). Right now, they need your help. Even little bedtime rituals become even more important during times like this.
2. All Feelings Welcome. Allow space for all the feelings you and your littles are experiencing
Resiliency does not mean “everything is great right now!” (cue fake smile). It means noticing the feelings bubbling up and being honest about it. Those feelings we push down and hide will come out in one way or another so we might as well face them head-on. Facing these feelings, labeling them, and allowing space for them to be expressed is a foundational skill of emotional regulation. Emotional regulation is always a core factor in resilience. If we can help manage our emotions through healthy expression, we can get through more difficult times. Teach this now to your kids, and they will thank you when they are older. This can be done through conversation, play, or stories. Seeing a real need for a tool that helps little ones identify, accept, and cope with their big emotions, we created The Feels for Slumberkins. The book, mini stuffies set, and curriculum provides educators, parents or caregivers easy ways to talk about big feelings. It’s a story about getting to know all your feelings, that allows children to think, explore, and play around with the concepts of feelings and be-friending them all.
3. Vulnerability Is the New Brave. Being vulnerable and acknowledging emotions, even the ‘bad’ ones, is true bravery.
Feeling scared, sad, angry, jealous, hurt, etc. is human. We are not bad for feeling these things, yet these feelings can be quite powerful and sometimes even painful. When we acknowledge these feelings, we show true bravery. Honesty and vulnerability are factors that not only help an individual, but they also strengthen our bonds in relationships. Relationships can grow stronger as we share our feelings with one another. Being vulnerable and brave can help us reach out when we need help (another core factor in resilience). Teach your children they can be honest about their feelings, and they are seen as strong and brave when they share their most difficult emotions.
4. Model What You Teach
It’s honestly the only way children learn. We have to focus on our own wellness, and emotional regulation and honestly with our emotions before we can help our children. Without trying to sound too creepy… they are watching us.
5. Practice Gratitude
Focusing on the good things can really fill our hearts. This is something we can always practice but often hold deeper and more profound meaning during times of stress. There is always something we can be grateful for—even if it’s something we used to take for granted. I think many of us are now finding gratitude for things we may not have in the past. I know, I am now so incredibly grateful for that smile from a kind neighbor on my daily walk, or for those 10 minutes of quiet when my child is playing with their toys. Just make sure you don’t skip over the acknowledgment of difficult emotions, too. Gratitude rings false if you aren’t also acknowledging the difficulty. We humans are complex, and we can tolerate things being terrible and wonderful at the same time. An experience many parents in our community are expressing during this time.
There are many ways to support resilience in children. When we allow a safe space for children to play and express themselves, they will always find ways to tap into their own resiliency and capacity for growth.
Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen are co-founders of Slumberkins, a children's brand supporting social-emotional learning for children. Kelly has a dual master's degree in family therapy and school counseling, and Callie has a master's degree in teaching. Both are passionate about teaching children social-emotional skills to thrive in our modern world.
If you were watching Good Morning America this morning, you were among the first to hear the exciting news. The Hamilton movie, originally intended for a full theatrical release premiering Oct. 2021 will be dropping sooner than expected.Now, the release has been moved up a year and a half to Jul 3 and will stream on Disney+.
Miranda, the show’s creator, and Bob Iger, executive chairman of The Walt Disney Company, made the surprise announcement this morning.
“No other artistic work in the last decade has had the cultural impact of Hamilton—an inspiring and captivating tale told and performed in a powerfully creative way. In light of the extraordinary challenges facing our world, this story about leadership, tenacity, hope, love and the power of people to unite against the forces of adversity is both relevant and impactful,” said Iger. “We are thrilled to bring this phenomenon to Disney+ on the eve of Independence Day, and we have the brilliant Lin-Manuel Miranda and the team behind ‘Hamilton’ to thank for allowing us to do so more than a year before planned.”
According to Miranda, The Hamilton performance that will air on Disney+ was filmed over three days in July 2016 with the original cast. “It just captures that moment in time so beautifully and watching it brings me right back there with that incredible, once-in-a-lifetime company,” he said.
The film is a leap forward in the art of “live capture” which transports its audience into the world of the Broadway show in a uniquely intimate way. Combining the best elements of live theater, film, and streaming, the result is a cinematic stage performance that is a wholly new way to experience Hamilton.
“I’m so proud of how beautifully Tommy Kail has brought ‘Hamilton’ to the screen. He’s given everyone who watches this film the best seat in the house,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. “I’m so grateful to Disney and Disney+ for reimagining and moving up our release to July 4th weekend of this year, in light of the world turning upside down. I’m so grateful to all the fans who asked for this, and I’m so glad that we’re able to make it happen. I’m so proud of this show. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
Filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in Jun. of 2016, Hamilton features Tony Award winners Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton; Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler; Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr; Tony Award nominees Christopher Jackson as George Washington; Jonathan Groff as King George; Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton; and Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; Okieriete Onaodowan as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison; and Anthony Ramos as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton.
The cast also includes Carleigh Bettiol, Ariana DeBose, Hope Easterbrook, Sydney James Harcourt, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Elizabeth Judd, Jon Rua, Austin Smith, Seth Stewart and Ephraim Sykes.
The litany of challenges facing teens in today’s modern culture mocks the floodwaters of generations past. Public is the new private for adolescents. Hard to fathom swimming in such shark infested waters when already weighed down by insecurities, body changes, and conflicting self-awareness. As a veteran teen raiser, I’m amazed by the tenacity exhibited by the Millennial population considering the ill-effects of growing up in a projector screen society.
Making matters worse is the fact teens are crazy. Not an insult, but a scientific statement. The frontal lobe of a human brain, the thing in our head capable of discerning, “If I do this, then that will happen”, doesn’t reach full development until the late twenties. Quite a ca ca meme scheme drummed up by our Creator. What was he thinking allowing a parent’s worst nightmare to coincide with a parent’s worst nightmare, i.e. teenager AND non-working brain?
Pff.
As a mom who at one point housed three cards short of a full deck under her roof at the same time, I found little solace in the irony. Until I did. Rapid cycling emotions and bewildering fads aside, teenagers have more of a grip on the world than adults give them credit for.
After being a teen, raising a teen offers an enlightening juxtaposition of reason. As a parent, you have the benefit of wisdom and experience; bi-products of evolved forward-thinking. The knowledge both snares you with exasperation when your teen does something stupid, and strokes you with benevolence when considering your jaded past. But because you can better see Yellowstone beyond the pine in your face, when your kid cries, “Uh, I never thought of that”, it’s easy to fume, “How on earth could you not see this coming?”
Choosing to accept the third world make-up of our teen’s brain gives them some leeway to screw up. And screw-up they will. On repeat. Just like we did. Multiple times over.
Today’s teens face temptations, communication mediums, and generational juggernauts leap years ahead of the challenges present in the seventies and eighties. The narcissistic pretense of instant everything, evil of streaming porn, and ever-widening availability of addictive substances on neighborhood street corners creates a vacuum of disasters waiting to happen. And this is only the short list of crouching lions looking to pounce on a teen’s well-being.
Becoming wise to the nuances of the current teen streetscape helped me recognize my parent pride and ignorance. My husband and I chose to build a bridge between our personal teen experience and our kids harrowing reality. Because teens can sniff out a hypocrite a magnificent mile away, we were transparent about our mistakes, poor choices, and misguided pursuits. Walking across the plank towards independence “together” built rock-solid trust between us.
Teens also endure a perpetual balancing act on the high wire of change. Hormonal, emotional, physical, spiritual, relational, communal, psychological metamorphosis all coalesce on the road from dependence to independence. The upheaval creates an even greater need for teens to love and be loved. A longing which, at a genuine level, requires depth and certitude, honesty and freedom—all things grossly contorted in the era of technology.
The 24/7 world of texting, snapping, posting, and tweeting about everybody’s business shallows even the best-intentioned waters. The incessant cyber gibber and constant contact waters down and glosses over authentic relationship. The result is a cesspool of insecurity reflecting the illusion of meaningful connection.
Observing my teens navigate these waters weighed on my heart. I grew to appreciate the vital importance of the following truths:
Today’s adolescents need caring adults to model authentic communication; a give and take of listening and sharing based on trust and appreciation. The teenage brain functions in the now. Therefore, it is imperative to express our gratitude, acceptance, understanding, and compassion today even if we are still fuming over their failures, mishaps, and antics tomorrow. We need to meet our teen right where they are, not where we hope they will be or wish they were already. Teenagers desire to be known for who they are, what they stand for, and what they believe whether we agree or not. Even though their journey of self-awareness is still ongoing, accepting them at each step along the way breeds hope.
Parenting through teendom transformed me into the woman I am today. The footprint I leave on the world will include, in large part, the influence of my beautiful kids in their most difficult years. The mini battles around expectations, drawn-out wars over rules, peer drama, emotional storms, adversity et al, and haphazard mania refined my spirit. And the blessing of raising them is a purified soul.
The reality is, raising teens made be a better human. For years leading up to this stage, I worried and vexed and grayed while assuming the formidable stage would be a disaster. I thought for sure I’d fail as a mom and screw up my miracles for good. Until I didn’t. Thank you, the mystique of prayers, Goose over ice, and God’s grace.
Enjoy your teens. Learn from them. Love them hard. Pray for them harder.
We’ve all heard that mindfulness is great for de-stressing our life. But can mindfulness also be good for kids? Absolutely! In fact, many schools teach some version of mindfulness to help students of all ages cope with stress, build relationship skills, and improve self-worth.
We can give kids the same benefits at home by incorporating mindfulness into their daily routine. Even if kids are too young to understand the word, they get the concept when they see us model mindful behavior. What’s more, by helping our kids learn valuable mindfulness skills, we inject some much-needed mindful relief into our own busy schedule! Here are four easy ways to get started.
1. Pay attention. The essence of mindfulness is learning to be where we actually are. When it comes to our kids, this means setting aside time every day to give them our undivided attention. Sure, we have to teach them to put away their toys, pick up their clothes, and do their homework. But we also need to let them know that we value them as human beings. We do this by finding uninterrupted time—maybe at the dinner table or during the bedtime routine—to actually see and listen to them. When we give our kids our undivided attention, we teach them how to focus, how to be respectful of others, and how to value themselves as worthwhile individuals.
2. Cultivate compassion. Young children are naturally self-centered. It takes time to develop kindness, empathy, and compassion, important emotional skills that promote healthy relationships. We can use mindfulness to help kids develop those skills by encouraging them to pay attention to their feelings. We can say things like “How did that make you feel?” or “It’s okay to be sad (or angry or scared).” We can also open up about our own emotions, letting them know that we, too, have feelings. Finally, we can ask them to imagine what others are feeling. Role-playing with puppets and other favorite toys can help young children connect on an emotional level, while older kids enjoy exploring the feelings of characters in books, movies, and TV shows. By planting seeds of compassion, we help kids grow into caring, emotionally intelligent adults.
3. Spend time in nature. Kids are instinctively engaged by the natural world—whether it’s the sky, the sea, a city park, or even a bug on a blade of grass. Nature is the great sustainer and connector, tangible evidence of the interconnectedness of all things. Through the mindful practice of nurturing kids’ connection with the natural world, we give them a foundation for sorting out what’s real and lasting as opposed to what’s superficial and fleeting. What’s more, helping kids see themselves as part of a greater whole—a basic tenet of mindfulness—nurtures their mind and spirit and promotes personal growth.
4. Practice patience. If we had to express mindfulness in a single word, “breathe” would be a good choice. After all, focusing on the breath is a time-honored way to get out of an emotional spiral and focus on the present moment. It’s also a reminder of the importance of patience. Although we live in a world of instant gratification, kids—like all of us–need to learn patience in order to cope with adversity, interact successfully with others, and set and achieve goals. Something as simple as explaining that the cake in the oven takes time to bake can help kids appreciate the concept of patience. And when they insist that they want it now, we can give them a hug, remember that growing up takes time, and remind ourselves to “just breathe!”
Finally, making mindfulness part of your parenting toolkit need not be complicated or time-consuming. In fact, it’s more of an attitude than a “to do” list. By incorporating mindful behaviors into your own life, you teach kids valuable skills that will pay big dividends for years to come.
Beverly Conyers is a mother of three grown children. As one of the most respected voices in wellness and recovery, she is the author of the upcoming book, Find Your Light. In the book, she shares how mindfulness can help anyone overcome habitual self-defeating thoughts and behaviors that prevent us from reaching our full potential.
Despite the noble efforts of many to keep bullying at bay and to educate the public as to how to do so, the reality of bullying nonetheless persists. Unless a new day dawns when the societal ills that empower bullies and which leave others vulnerable to them are eradicated in full, bullying will endure, at least to some extent. Until that day comes, if it ever does, let those of us who are targeted by bullies be inspired to rise above it! In case you have been a target and want to learn how to rise above, here’s how it can be done. These strategies come to you from an adult on the autism spectrum who didn’t know it until he was 40 years old, had to endure more than his share of bullying and emerged stronger than before!
See the bully for who he or she is: Bullies believe that they are stronger and smarter than their victims, though in reality, they are neither stronger nor smarter. Thinking of them in this light can help ward off emotional scars that would likely be inflicted otherwise.
What does the word “strength” mean to you? Strength is more than just a physical attribute. It also exists inside, in one’s mind, heart, and soul, which can be thought of as “inner strength.” Anybody who needs to bully others to feel strong and whole is not as strong as he or she might appear. This kind of dependence on the exertion of force is actually a sign of weakness. Therefore, never accept that you are smaller or weaker than the bully. If you have allowed anybody to persuade you into believing this way, it is never too late to believe otherwise!
Understand that bullies need help: At least some bullies have themselves been bullied or abused earlier in life, and so they end up resorting to bullying to “make things right,” to be able to feel strong after having been made to feel weak, or maybe because they did not receive the help they needed after they were bullied. If a bully seeks help and can eventually come to understand that happiness and fulfillment come from within rather than from imposing themselves upon others, then he or she can be rehabilitated and learn to stop bullying.
If you have been targeted, try to understand that there is probably a legitimate explanation for why the bully behaves the way he or she does. Not an easy task by any means, and it is not meant to excuse bad behavior or keep you from standing up for yourself. Rather, if you can put yourself in the shoes of the person who victimized you, then you are more likely to rise above any future bullying by virtue of knowing that the person who bullied you is just as human as you are, may have been bullied just as you were, and has probably endured more than his or her share of hardship.
Accept, or better yet, embrace who you are: Doing so builds self-esteem, and building self-esteem builds inner strength at the same time because the two go hand in hand. Consequently, inner strength helps you rise above the bullies.
Nobody deserves to be bullied, so if you are blaming yourself for being bullied, please stop. Instead, embrace what makes you different and work towards accepting those attributes of your personality that up to now have been bringing you down and which you feel are the reasons why you have been bullied. These attributes are an integral part of who you are. They account for what makes you unique and special. Nobody is perfect, we are all human, so be who you are, at all costs!
Remain focused on what matters most to you: Bullies often aim to get under your skin and disrupt your life. Do not let the bully win in this regard. Do what you need to do, cultivate your interests and talents, spend your time with the people you care about, and live your life. Nobody gets to sidetrack you from what matters most to you!
Anticipate that a bully may target you again and be prepared: Let’s consider bullying from a “big picture” perspective; doing so can be helpful. Perhaps you can draw the strength to rise above bullying from acknowledging and accepting that there is a darker side to human nature. As such, you can fortify your “inner defense” against any form of adversity that may be headed your way, including any bully with whom you might cross paths. Sadly, we hear too many stories in the mass media about war and oppression, the deep divisions inherent in our politics, a prevalence of “us versus them” tribalism, and bullying and criminal behavior on the part of some who are in positions of power in our society, to name a few. Consider all of the toxicity in our midst and be a realist with respect to the regrettable inevitability of bullying. See it coming. Be ready for it, even though it may not surface again (wouldn’t that be nice!). Fingers crossed.
SAM FARMER wears many hats, among them father, husband, musician, computer consultant, autism spectrum community contributor, and author of the new book, A Long Walk Down a Winding Road: Small Steps, Challenges, & Triumphs Through an Autistic Lens, which is now available on Amazon.
Meghan Markle scored some serious parenting advice during her stint as guest editor for British Vogue’s September issue. The new mama spoke with none other than former FLOTUS Michelle Obama about parenting during their interview for the issue’s Forces For Change section.
So what did Mrs. Obama have to say? According to the interview, the mother to two now-young adults talked about parenting, control and letting go.
The former first lady told Markle, “Being a mother has been a masterclass in letting go. Try as we might, there’s only so much we can control.” She went on to add, “As mothers, we just don’t want anything or anyone to hurt our babies. But life has other plans. Bruised knees, bumpy roads and broken hearts are part of the deal.”
Obama continued, talking candidly to Markle about lessons learned through parenting, “Motherhood has taught me that, most of the time, my job is to give them the space to explore and develop into the people they want to be. Not who I want them to be or who I wish I was at that age, but who they are, deep inside.”
She continued, “Motherhood has also taught me that my job is not to bulldoze a path for them in an effort to eliminate all possible adversity. But instead, I need to be a safe and consistent place for them to land when they inevitably fail; and to show them, again and again, how to get up on their own.”
Recent research may have found the upside of adolescent acne. As it turns out, the perpetual pimples of the teen years may lead to increased GPA, better grades in some high school subjects, a higher likelihood of completing a college degree and increased eventual earnings as an adult.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Human Capital, used data from thousands of now-adults participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The participants, who were in junior and senior high school during the 1994-95 school year were followed for decades, into their 20s and 30s.
Along with questions about grades and social life, the then-teen participants were also surveyed about their self-esteem and skin. Years later researchers asked the teens-turned-adults about college attainment and career earnings.
After reviewing the data the researchers found an association between having acne as a teen and doing better in school—specifically, English, history, math and science. The acne-prone participants were also more likely to go to college and, for the females, were more likely to outearn peers.
While there’s no clear explanation between the acne-grades or acne-earnings associations, the researchers believe the acne-prone teens may have spent less time socializing and more time studying—leading to long-term benefits. But not all experts agree with this assessment.
Child and family psychologist, Jennifer Harstein, told TODAY, “It doesn’t mean that they don’t have friends or aren’t social, it just may mean that when they have a flare-up, they tend to isolate more.” Harstein also added, “Not all people with acne have the same kinds of self-consciousness about it. Many can recognize that this is a part of development and a result of hormones shifting.”
Whatever the reason is for the acne-success connection, this study goes to show teens really can triumph over adversity!
