Angela Caldwell, MFT
@angelacaldwell.bsky.social
I’ve been an licensed MFT for more than two decades, and founder of Caldwell Family Institute. I’m also a professor, a speaker, and a media contributor. Follow me and learn #howtofamily.
http://www.angelacaldwell.com
https://m.youtube.com/@angelacaldwell
http://www.angelacaldwell.com
https://m.youtube.com/@angelacaldwell
Last month I encouraged you to identify your family’s core values and assess how you’re living them. Now that we’re a week into the new year, skip the resolutions and set family goals rooted in those values. Share your goals in the comments—I’m happy to offer tips to help you succeed.
#corevalues
#corevalues
January 9, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Last month I encouraged you to identify your family’s core values and assess how you’re living them. Now that we’re a week into the new year, skip the resolutions and set family goals rooted in those values. Share your goals in the comments—I’m happy to offer tips to help you succeed.
#corevalues
#corevalues
New here? Hello! I’m a marriage & family therapist in Southern California with 20+ years of experience. I love helping families thrive and building strong villages of family support. Follow me this year—and say hi in the comments!
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
#mentalhealth
#thevillage
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
#mentalhealth
#thevillage
January 6, 2026 at 4:05 AM
New here? Hello! I’m a marriage & family therapist in Southern California with 20+ years of experience. I love helping families thrive and building strong villages of family support. Follow me this year—and say hi in the comments!
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
#mentalhealth
#thevillage
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
#mentalhealth
#thevillage
As the year ends, I hope this family values exercise sparked reflection and growth. Before jumping into the new year, take time to celebrate 2025 together—share a meal, look at photos, play a game, or just be present. Then recommit to one another for the year ahead. Happy New Year!
#corevalues
#corevalues
January 1, 2026 at 3:40 AM
As the year ends, I hope this family values exercise sparked reflection and growth. Before jumping into the new year, take time to celebrate 2025 together—share a meal, look at photos, play a game, or just be present. Then recommit to one another for the year ahead. Happy New Year!
#corevalues
#corevalues
Insightful read: family stories shape our identity—but awareness lets us choose what to carry forward. As the new year approaches, it’s worth asking how we want to shape our family identity in 2026.
#howtofamily
#corevalues
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prog...
#howtofamily
#corevalues
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prog...
The Roots of Our Stories: Family and the Forging of Identity
A sputtering of formative anxiety is passed along from generation to generation. The family unconscious drives identity, etching itself into personality.
www.psychologytoday.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Insightful read: family stories shape our identity—but awareness lets us choose what to carry forward. As the new year approaches, it’s worth asking how we want to shape our family identity in 2026.
#howtofamily
#corevalues
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prog...
#howtofamily
#corevalues
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prog...
We decided early not to let our kids on social media. Ever. (We aren’t naïve—we know they’ll figure out how to do it behind our backs.) Instead, we talk to them openly about FOMO, and prepare them for how it’s going to feel and what they can say to friends. So far so good. 🤞🏼
#anxiousgeneration
#anxiousgeneration
December 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
We decided early not to let our kids on social media. Ever. (We aren’t naïve—we know they’ll figure out how to do it behind our backs.) Instead, we talk to them openly about FOMO, and prepare them for how it’s going to feel and what they can say to friends. So far so good. 🤞🏼
#anxiousgeneration
#anxiousgeneration
Final step of the family inventory: revisit your core values. Do they reflect everyone—and can everyone live by them? Our kids said our pace was overwhelming, sparking an honest talk about balance. Make time this week to ask the hard questions.
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#family
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#family
December 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Final step of the family inventory: revisit your core values. Do they reflect everyone—and can everyone live by them? Our kids said our pace was overwhelming, sparking an honest talk about balance. Make time this week to ask the hard questions.
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#family
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#family
Families are dismissing the idea of libraries because they go online. But consider this: unlike TikTok, most books are fairly reliable sources of information. And the act of going to the library means you’re off screens, even for a bit. Go use the Dewey decimal system!
#readersareleaders
#readersareleaders
December 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Families are dismissing the idea of libraries because they go online. But consider this: unlike TikTok, most books are fairly reliable sources of information. And the act of going to the library means you’re off screens, even for a bit. Go use the Dewey decimal system!
#readersareleaders
#readersareleaders
Quick check-in: you’ve named your family values and graded how you lived them. Step 3—use that report card to see where you need work. For us, kindness got a C. This week, have the conversation and commit to what you’ll strengthen in the new year.
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#parenting
#walkthetalk
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#parenting
#walkthetalk
December 17, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Quick check-in: you’ve named your family values and graded how you lived them. Step 3—use that report card to see where you need work. For us, kindness got a C. This week, have the conversation and commit to what you’ll strengthen in the new year.
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#parenting
#walkthetalk
#howtofamily
#corevalues
#parenting
#walkthetalk
Read Forgive Everyone Everything by Fr. Greg Boyle—52 powerful stories of resilience, healing, and radical forgiveness. Honest, hopeful, and deeply human. Highly recommend.
#forgiveness
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
#forgiveness
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
December 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Read Forgive Everyone Everything by Fr. Greg Boyle—52 powerful stories of resilience, healing, and radical forgiveness. Honest, hopeful, and deeply human. Highly recommend.
#forgiveness
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
#forgiveness
#howtofamily
#family
#parenting
Want fewer screen battles? Put kids in scheduled activities—sports, music, martial arts, art. Sure, there may be some whining, but it’s a far better problem than screen addiction.
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#leaveyourscreen
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#leaveyourscreen
December 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Want fewer screen battles? Put kids in scheduled activities—sports, music, martial arts, art. Sure, there may be some whining, but it’s a far better problem than screen addiction.
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#leaveyourscreen
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#leaveyourscreen
Last week I challenged you to name your family’s 3–4 core values. Mine: kindness, intellect, athleticism & community. This week’s step: give your family a “report card” by grading how well you lived each value this year. Step three coming next week.
#howtofamily
#parenting
#corevalues
#howtofamily
#parenting
#corevalues
December 8, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Last week I challenged you to name your family’s 3–4 core values. Mine: kindness, intellect, athleticism & community. This week’s step: give your family a “report card” by grading how well you lived each value this year. Step three coming next week.
#howtofamily
#parenting
#corevalues
#howtofamily
#parenting
#corevalues
Book rec for parents nearing the end of “active parenting”: Meagan Francis’s The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read offers sharp, heartfelt guidance on launching your teen—honoring the heartbreak and the new beginnings. Worth it!
#howtofamily
#raisingadults
#bookthreads
#parenting
#howtofamily
#raisingadults
#bookthreads
#parenting
December 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Book rec for parents nearing the end of “active parenting”: Meagan Francis’s The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read offers sharp, heartfelt guidance on launching your teen—honoring the heartbreak and the new beginnings. Worth it!
#howtofamily
#raisingadults
#bookthreads
#parenting
#howtofamily
#raisingadults
#bookthreads
#parenting
Reality check! Open your Settings and take a look at your screen time use. Then ask yourself how you would feel if those numbers were your kid’s numbers. Would you be worried?
#phonehygiene
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#realitycheck
#phonehygiene
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#realitycheck
December 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reality check! Open your Settings and take a look at your screen time use. Then ask yourself how you would feel if those numbers were your kid’s numbers. Would you be worried?
#phonehygiene
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#realitycheck
#phonehygiene
#howtofamily
#anxiousgeneration
#realitycheck
December is hectic, but here’s your challenge: pause and look ahead. Reflect on your family’s core values—are you living what you preach? Identify 3–4 values together and see how you did this year. Share them if you’d like, and stay tuned for next week’s step.
#howtofamily
#family
#familyvalues
#howtofamily
#family
#familyvalues
December 1, 2025 at 11:44 PM
December is hectic, but here’s your challenge: pause and look ahead. Reflect on your family’s core values—are you living what you preach? Identify 3–4 values together and see how you did this year. Share them if you’d like, and stay tuned for next week’s step.
#howtofamily
#family
#familyvalues
#howtofamily
#family
#familyvalues
I want to close out the month with a reminder for aunts: never underestimate your role as a confidante. Girls don’t always want to talk to their moms—sometimes they need you. Be the safe place, the listener, the fresh perspective. Present, supportive aunts help raise stronger girls.
#howtofamily
#howtofamily
December 1, 2025 at 5:25 AM
I want to close out the month with a reminder for aunts: never underestimate your role as a confidante. Girls don’t always want to talk to their moms—sometimes they need you. Be the safe place, the listener, the fresh perspective. Present, supportive aunts help raise stronger girls.
#howtofamily
#howtofamily
Click. Click. Scroll. Scroll. Swipe. Click. Scroll. Swipe. Meanwhile, your body has been in the same position for hours and your spine is cementing into a hunch. When you’re coming out of anesthesia after your sixth back or neck surgery in your eighties, you’ll regret all the clicking and scrolling.
November 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Click. Click. Scroll. Scroll. Swipe. Click. Scroll. Swipe. Meanwhile, your body has been in the same position for hours and your spine is cementing into a hunch. When you’re coming out of anesthesia after your sixth back or neck surgery in your eighties, you’ll regret all the clicking and scrolling.
Be smarter than the algorithm! There’s a reason your feed is so enticing. Who do you think ultimately profits from all your scrolling? The longer they can keep you logged in, the better for them and the worse for you. Log off, unplug, and go for a walk.
#theanxiousgeneration
#logoff
#theanxiousgeneration
#logoff
November 19, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Be smarter than the algorithm! There’s a reason your feed is so enticing. Who do you think ultimately profits from all your scrolling? The longer they can keep you logged in, the better for them and the worse for you. Log off, unplug, and go for a walk.
#theanxiousgeneration
#logoff
#theanxiousgeneration
#logoff
Aunts, when parent–kid tensions flare, don’t jump into the conflict—step in after. Offer to take the kid for a breather, stay neutral, listen if they talk, and be that calm, trusted adult. Your steady presence is a gift.
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Aunts, when parent–kid tensions flare, don’t jump into the conflict—step in after. Offer to take the kid for a breather, stay neutral, listen if they talk, and be that calm, trusted adult. Your steady presence is a gift.
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
Check out Christine Ruggeri’s article about the health benefits of aunts! Who knew aunts did so much to boost self-esteem, support mindfulness, and navigate parent-child problems?
draxe.com/health/benef...
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
draxe.com/health/benef...
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
Why Aunts May Be Just as Important as Moms
An aunt is the perfect blend of mother and friend — she is part of a young girl's roots — but allows her to flourish and discover new things comfortably.
draxe.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Check out Christine Ruggeri’s article about the health benefits of aunts! Who knew aunts did so much to boost self-esteem, support mindfulness, and navigate parent-child problems?
draxe.com/health/benef...
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
draxe.com/health/benef...
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
If creating content was just a way to express yourself or share your story, then you would do it on your own time, calmly and freely. When it becomes a nagging, stress-inducing must, you’ve become an Instajunkie where fame is the drug and content is the needle. That’s not sharing, that’s addiction.
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If creating content was just a way to express yourself or share your story, then you would do it on your own time, calmly and freely. When it becomes a nagging, stress-inducing must, you’ve become an Instajunkie where fame is the drug and content is the needle. That’s not sharing, that’s addiction.
Aunt tip: teach your nieces/nephews something only you know—cook, craft, play, whatever! The skill is cool, but the bond lasts forever.
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Aunt tip: teach your nieces/nephews something only you know—cook, craft, play, whatever! The skill is cool, but the bond lasts forever.
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
I feel like there should be some kind of driver’s license for social media. You should have to take a safety course, understand how to operate them responsibly, and know the risks. Also there should be penalties for causing harm with them. Who’s handling this?
#howtofamily
#socialmediasafety
#howtofamily
#socialmediasafety
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
I feel like there should be some kind of driver’s license for social media. You should have to take a safety course, understand how to operate them responsibly, and know the risks. Also there should be penalties for causing harm with them. Who’s handling this?
#howtofamily
#socialmediasafety
#howtofamily
#socialmediasafety
November is for the aunts 💕
Your role? Be the cool adult — show kids that growing up can be fun, kind & full of good choices. Your influence matters. Those kids adore you. 💖
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
Your role? Be the cool adult — show kids that growing up can be fun, kind & full of good choices. Your influence matters. Those kids adore you. 💖
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
November 4, 2025 at 3:50 AM
November is for the aunts 💕
Your role? Be the cool adult — show kids that growing up can be fun, kind & full of good choices. Your influence matters. Those kids adore you. 💖
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
Your role? Be the cool adult — show kids that growing up can be fun, kind & full of good choices. Your influence matters. Those kids adore you. 💖
#howtofamily
#auntlife
#thevillage
Back by popular demand—let’s talk subsystems!
The parental subsystem includes anyone raising a child—parents, grandparents, etc. The partner subsystem gives adults space to connect and shields their relationship from parenting stress.
More on subsystems? Visit my YouTube channel.
#howtofamily
The parental subsystem includes anyone raising a child—parents, grandparents, etc. The partner subsystem gives adults space to connect and shields their relationship from parenting stress.
More on subsystems? Visit my YouTube channel.
#howtofamily
November 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Back by popular demand—let’s talk subsystems!
The parental subsystem includes anyone raising a child—parents, grandparents, etc. The partner subsystem gives adults space to connect and shields their relationship from parenting stress.
More on subsystems? Visit my YouTube channel.
#howtofamily
The parental subsystem includes anyone raising a child—parents, grandparents, etc. The partner subsystem gives adults space to connect and shields their relationship from parenting stress.
More on subsystems? Visit my YouTube channel.
#howtofamily
You can’t just protect your kids from cyberbullying—you also have to protect them from becoming the bully. Embrace the concept of digital citizenship and instill it in your kids. Being respectful online is a critical aspect of personal integrity. Raise them right.
#howtofamily
#bullying
#howtofamily
#bullying
October 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM
You can’t just protect your kids from cyberbullying—you also have to protect them from becoming the bully. Embrace the concept of digital citizenship and instill it in your kids. Being respectful online is a critical aspect of personal integrity. Raise them right.
#howtofamily
#bullying
#howtofamily
#bullying