Dr. Lisa Belisle

Monkey See, Monkey Do: Parents as Healthy Role Models

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH

Originally published November/December 2009, Parent & Family

My son became a sports fan shortly after his birth.  Born October first, Campbell began watching football with his father the week he came home from the hospital.  The following spring he became a citizen of “Red Sox Nation.” Sixteen years later, Campbell and his father speak a language I only vaguely understand: it includes phrases such as “dropped passes” and the “infield fly rule.” My husband is one of my son’s most important role models.  Most parents enjoy the same privilege.

Consider this:

--children have twice the risk of becoming habitual smokers by the time they graduate from high school if one or both parents smoke
--girls are ten times more likely to be obese if their mothers are obese; boys are six times more likely to be obese if their fathers are obese
--children who have more physically active parents are statistically more likely to be active themselves.

Food Sensitivities & Stress: School Stomachaches, Headaches and Other Brain-Gut Syndromes

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published September/October 2009, Parent & Family

Kids, school and stomachaches. You know the drill: morning rolls around and your child doesn’t want to get on the school bus, claiming his belly hurts. You keep him home, and he seems to recover, only to have the same thing happen again.

Then there is the recurring daily headache. Your child starts the day just fine, only to return in the mid-afternoon holding his head in pain. A visit to the doctor shows that nothing is wrong with his brain, but gives you no additional answers.

The Health Implications of Meat-Eating: Barbecuing and Beyond

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published July/August 2009, Parent & Family

Are you a griller? Many people are taking their food preparation to the patios this time of year. Backyard barbecues are a wonderful way for families to relax and enjoy being outside together. Grilling also generates less kitchen mess and doesn’t heat up the house — an attractive perk in mid summer.   

Keeping Kids First In Difficult Times

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published May/June 2009, Parent & Family

I gave birth to my oldest child fifteen years ago. Once I gave him the gift of life, my husband and I followed this by giving him nourishment, shelter and attention. As the years have passed, we have given him countless hours of our time and dollars out of our wallets. We’ve done the same for our daughters. Why? Because we love our children, and we recognize that ultimately parenting is about giving. It is about making our children our top priority.

Ready for Spring? Let’s Go!

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH 
Originally published in Parent & Family, March-April 2009 

Slogging through March can be a challenge. We’ve survived three months of winter, but the season isn’t quite over. We have mud, we have semi-darkness, and we have cabin fever. It can be tempting to attach ourselves to the couch cushions and refuse to budge until warmer days appear.

Growth for Grownups: One Step at a Time

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published January 2009, Parent & Family

I could not wait for my oldest child to grow up. I wanted to see his first tentative steps and hear his first intelligible words—immediately, if not sooner. But I did not have a choice: I had to wait. Growing up is a process. One set of brain cells needs to connect with another set of brain cells, and the brain needs to communicate with the rest of the body. Then children walk, and talk, and grow. Growth takes time.

Books as Companions: Easing the Woes of the World

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published November 2008, Parent & Family

My 7-year-old has discovered that recess can be intimidating. This year she is in a larger school, where the second grade students share the playground with third and fourth grade students. As might be expected, the older kids aren’t always interested in playing with the younger ones. Sophie feels hurt by this at times.

Listening: Lather, Rinse, Repeat

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH 
Originally published September 2008, Parent & Family 

My son is a sophomore in high school. Our conversations usually revolve around his requests, such as “Can I get a ride?” and “Can I have some money?” My daughters are in seventh and second grade. Our conversations typically are much longer. We discuss their friends, their activities and what is going on in the world. I can’t dictate what my children tell me, or how long it takes. But I can listen to their stories respectfully, just as I hope they will listen to other people’s stories respectfully. When we listen, we learn things about others, and sometimes, things about ourselves. 

Curing Lopsided Life Syndrome: First, You Must Walk Alone

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published July 2008, Parent & Family

My last Parent & Family article (Walking the Walk, May 2008) addressed walking with our children. As I mentioned, this is a wonderful way to role model healthy behavior. Walking also gives children a chance to connect with us, with their inner selves, and with their environment.

Walking the Walk

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published May 2008, Parent & Family

Last year our family moved to a house that was less than a mile away from our children’s schools. We had previously lived only a little farther up the road. We did this in part because we wanted them to walk to school as often as possible. We wanted them to have the chance to daydream as they meandered down the wooded paths, over the brook and across the fields. We wanted them to see the world up close; to develop a sense of place. We wanted them to engage in an activity that benefited their spirits — and their bodies.