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Connecting with Families at the Maternity, Baby & Kid Expo

Connecting with Families at the Maternity, Baby & Kid Expo

Southeast Kentucky Behavioral Health (SEKYBH) recently had the privilege of participating in the Maternity, Baby & Kid Expo in Somerset, proudly sponsored by Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital on March 25, 2026. This event brought together families from across the community for a day focused on education, support, and connection.

Representing SEKYBH, Sabrina Henson, Case Manager and Marketer, spent the day engaging with parents, caregivers, and children—sharing valuable information about the wide range of behavioral health services available. From early childhood support to family-centered care, the event provided an opportunity to highlight how SEKYBH is committed to meeting families where they are and supporting their unique needs.

Events like this serve as a reminder of the importance of community outreach in building trust and awareness around mental health services. By connecting face-to-face with local families, SEKYBH continues to strengthen its mission of providing compassionate, accessible care throughout Southeast Kentucky.

It was truly a meaningful day filled with conversations, connections, and a shared commitment to supporting the well-being of children and families in the region.

What Too Much Screen Time Does to Your Child’s Brain

Many kids today spend a lot of time sitting on the couch watching TV, playing video games, or using a tablet. While screens can be fun and even helpful for learning, too much screen time can affect how a child’s brain grows and develops.

Let’s talk about what happens inside the brain.

🧠 The Brain Needs Activity to Grow

A child’s brain is always growing. It gets stronger when kids:

Play outside Talk with others Use their imagination Move their bodies

When a child sits still for a long time staring at a screen, the brain is not working in the same way. It becomes more passive, which means the brain is just watching instead of doing.

📺 Too Much Screen Time Can Affect Attention

Fast-moving shows and games can make the brain get used to constant excitement. This can make it harder for kids to:

Focus in school Sit still during class Pay attention to slower activities like reading

Over time, the brain may start to expect constant stimulation, making everyday tasks feel boring.

🗣️ It Can Slow Down Communication Skills

Kids learn to talk and understand others by:

Having conversations Listening to people Watching facial expressions

When a child spends too much time on a screen, they miss chances to practice these skills. This can make it harder for them to:

Express their feelings Understand others Build strong friendships

😴 Sleep Can Be Affected

Screens, especially before bedtime, can make it hard for the brain to relax. The bright light from screens can:

Trick the brain into thinking it’s still daytime Make it harder to fall asleep Lead to less restful sleep

Sleep is very important because the brain grows and heals during rest.

❤️ It Can Affect Emotions

When kids spend too much time on screens, they may:

Feel more irritable Get frustrated easily Have trouble handling boredom

This is because they are not learning how to manage their feelings through real-life experiences.

⚖️ Balance Is the Key

Screens are not bad by themselves. The key is balance. Healthy habits include:

Limiting screen time Taking breaks to move and play Spending time with family and friends Doing creative activities like drawing or building

🌱 Final Thoughts

A child’s brain grows best when it is active, engaged, and connected to the real world. Sitting on the couch staring at a screen for long periods can slow down important parts of development.

Helping kids balance screen time with play, conversation, and movement gives their brains the best chance to grow strong and healthy.

About the Author

John S. Collier, MSW, LCSW, is a behavioral health therapist dedicated to helping children and families build healthier habits, improve emotional well-being, and support strong brain development through practical, real-life strategies.

📚 References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and Young Minds. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Child Development Basics. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2020). Screen Time and Children. World Health Organization. (2019). Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children.

What Does It Mean for a Husband to Love and Lead His Wife?

When discussions arise about the biblical concept of a wife submitting to her husband, the conversation is incomplete without addressing the equally important responsibility placed upon the husband. Scripture calls husbands not merely to lead but to love in a way that reflects sacrifice, humility, and devotion. In fact, the responsibility placed upon husbands in the Bible is profound and demanding. Leadership in marriage is not about authority or control—it is about service, protection, and selfless love.

Understanding what it truly means for a husband to lead and love his wife requires examining both biblical teaching and relational wisdom.

The Biblical Model of Leadership

One of the clearest passages describing the husband’s role in marriage appears in Ephesians 5:25:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” (NKJV)

This command sets an incredibly high standard. Christ’s love for the church was sacrificial, patient, forgiving, and protective. Christ willingly gave His life for the church, placing the needs of others above His own.

For husbands, this means leadership is expressed through self-sacrifice rather than dominance. A husband’s leadership should focus on nurturing the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of his family.

This kind of leadership involves responsibility, not entitlement.

Leadership Through Service

Healthy leadership in marriage resembles servant leadership, a concept demonstrated by Christ Himself. In Mark 10:45, Jesus said:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”

When applied to marriage, this principle suggests that a husband leads best when he serves his wife and family.

Service within marriage may include:

Providing emotional support during difficult times Protecting the family’s well-being Taking responsibility for the family’s direction Demonstrating patience and understanding Making sacrifices for the good of the household

Leadership in this context is not about having the final word in every situation. Instead, it involves guiding the relationship with humility and wisdom while valuing the wife’s voice and perspective.

Loving Through Action

Many men express love differently than women often expect. While verbal affirmation is important, many men demonstrate love through actions, responsibilities, and provision.

Research on relationship dynamics suggests that men frequently communicate love through problem-solving, protection, and practical support (Gray, 1992; Gottman & Silver, 2015). These behaviors may include working long hours to support the family, fixing problems around the home, or stepping in during times of crisis.

While these acts may not always appear romantic, they often represent a husband’s way of saying, “I care for you and want to provide for our life together.”

Understanding these differences in communication styles can help couples avoid misunderstandings about how love is expressed.

Leadership Requires Listening

Healthy leadership in marriage does not ignore a wife’s thoughts or insights. In fact, wise leadership requires attentive listening and thoughtful consideration.

Proverbs 19:20 reminds us:

“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.”

A husband who values his wife’s perspective demonstrates respect and strengthens the partnership within the marriage. Many successful marriages operate through collaborative decision-making, where both partners discuss options, weigh consequences, and reach decisions together.

Leadership, therefore, often means facilitating unity rather than enforcing authority.

Emotional Safety and Stability

One of the most important aspects of a husband’s role is creating emotional safety within the relationship. A loving husband strives to ensure that his wife feels:

Valued Respected Heard Protected Supported

Research consistently shows that emotional safety is one of the strongest predictors of marital satisfaction and long-term relationship stability (Gottman & Silver, 2015).

When a husband consistently treats his wife with kindness, patience, and respect, he creates an environment where trust and intimacy can flourish.

The Danger of Misusing Leadership

Unfortunately, the concept of male leadership has sometimes been misused to justify controlling or abusive behavior. True biblical leadership never supports intimidation, manipulation, or coercion.

A husband who attempts to dominate his wife is not following biblical teaching. Instead, he is violating the core principle of sacrificial love that defines Christian leadership.

Healthy leadership always includes:

Accountability Humility Self-control Respect for one’s spouse

Any behavior that harms or diminishes a partner contradicts the biblical model of marriage.

Marriage as a Shared Journey

Ultimately, marriage is not about hierarchy—it is about partnership. A husband and wife are two individuals walking together through life, each contributing unique strengths and perspectives.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.”

When both spouses embrace their roles with love and humility, marriage becomes a powerful source of support, growth, and companionship.

The husband leads with love.

The wife responds with respect.

Together they build a relationship rooted in trust, faith, and unity.

Conclusion

The biblical call for husbands is not to rule but to love sacrificially and lead responsibly. A husband’s leadership should reflect Christ’s example—serving, protecting, and nurturing the well-being of his wife.

True leadership in marriage is not measured by authority but by the depth of love, humility, and responsibility a husband demonstrates toward his family.

When husbands embrace this calling, they help create marriages built on trust, partnership, and enduring commitment.

About the Author

John S. Collier, MSW, LCSW is a behavioral health therapist and writer based in Kentucky. With extensive experience working with couples and families, he focuses on helping individuals understand the emotional and relational dynamics that influence healthy marriages. Through his clinical work and writing, Collier strives to bridge psychological insight with practical wisdom to strengthen relationships and families.

References

Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Harmony Books.

Gray, J. (1992). Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. HarperCollins.

Stanley, S., Markman, H., & Blumberg, S. (2006). Fighting for Your Marriage. Jossey-Bass.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson.

A Woman Can Feel Alone in a House Full of Her Husband and Children

From the outside, a home filled with a husband and children often appears warm, lively, and complete. The kitchen is busy, the children are active, and the responsibilities of family life fill every hour of the day. Yet for many women, there can be a quiet loneliness that exists beneath the surface of that busy household. A woman can be surrounded by the people she loves most and still feel emotionally alone.

This loneliness is not caused by a lack of people around her. Instead, it comes from feeling unseen, unheard, or emotionally disconnected within the very family she pours her energy into each day.

The Emotional Load Women Often Carry

Women frequently carry what researchers describe as the “mental load” of the household. This includes not only physical tasks like cooking, cleaning, or managing schedules, but also the invisible emotional responsibilities that keep a family functioning (Daminger, 2019).

A woman may be the one remembering doctor’s appointments, keeping track of school assignments, planning family gatherings, comforting children after a bad day, and managing the emotional atmosphere of the home. While these acts of care are often expressions of deep love, they can also become overwhelming when they go unnoticed.

Over time, the constant responsibility can leave a woman feeling like she is responsible for everyone else’s well-being while no one is paying attention to her own emotional needs.

When Communication Becomes Limited

Many women long for emotional connection with their spouse. Conversation, understanding, and shared vulnerability are often central to how women experience intimacy in relationships (Gottman & Silver, 2015).

However, when a husband becomes absorbed in work, stress, or responsibilities, communication can become limited to logistics:

• “Did you pay the bill?”

• “What time is the game tonight?”

• “Who is picking up the kids?”

While these conversations are necessary, they rarely provide emotional connection. When meaningful conversations disappear, a woman may begin to feel like her husband is physically present but emotionally distant.

The result can be a painful paradox: sharing a house, a bed, and a family while feeling emotionally alone.

The Loneliness of Being Needed by Everyone

One of the unique struggles many mothers experience is the feeling of being constantly needed but rarely supported.

Children rely on their mother for comfort, guidance, meals, organization, and emotional reassurance. While this role can be deeply fulfilling, it can also be exhausting when it never pauses.

A woman may spend her entire day responding to the needs of others:

• solving arguments between siblings

• helping with homework

• preparing meals

• managing schedules

• offering emotional comfort

By the time the day ends, she may feel emotionally drained. Yet when she turns to her husband hoping for understanding or support, he may not realize how much she has been carrying.

When appreciation or emotional support is missing, the loneliness can grow stronger.

Feeling Invisible in the Marriage

Many women describe loneliness in marriage as feeling invisible.

A wife may feel that her efforts to maintain the home and nurture the family are taken for granted. She may wonder if her husband still notices the person she is beyond her roles as a mother and caretaker.

She may miss the earlier days of the relationship when conversations were deeper, attention was focused on one another, and emotional closeness came more naturally.

Instead, she may feel like she has become simply another part of the routine of family life.

Research suggests that emotional neglect—when a partner consistently fails to recognize or respond to emotional needs—can be a significant contributor to relationship dissatisfaction (Overall & Simpson, 2015).

The Desire to Be Understood

Most women do not expect perfection in their marriages. What many truly desire is to feel understood.

They want their spouse to notice when they are overwhelmed.

They want their feelings to be taken seriously.

They want to feel valued not only for what they do but for who they are.

When those needs remain unmet over long periods of time, loneliness can develop even in otherwise stable families.

This type of loneliness is not always dramatic. Often it appears quietly as emotional fatigue, frustration, or sadness that is difficult to explain.

Rebuilding Emotional Connection

The good news is that loneliness within marriage does not have to be permanent. Emotional connection can be rebuilt when both partners intentionally make space for each other again.

This may involve:

• setting aside time for meaningful conversation

• expressing appreciation regularly

• listening without immediately trying to fix problems

• asking each other deeper questions about feelings and experiences

For husbands, understanding that emotional presence matters as much as physical provision can strengthen the relationship. For wives, openly communicating their emotional needs can help their partners better understand how to support them.

Healthy relationships grow when both partners feel seen, valued, and emotionally connected.

Conclusion

A house full of people does not always guarantee a full heart.

Many women quietly struggle with feelings of loneliness even while surrounded by the family they love deeply. When emotional connection fades, even the busiest household can feel isolating.

Marriage and family thrive when both partners remember that beyond the responsibilities of daily life, there are two human beings who still need to feel understood, appreciated, and loved.

Sometimes the most important thing a husband can do is simply pause, look at his wife, and truly see her again.

About the Author

John S. Collier, MSW, LCSW, is a behavioral health therapist and writer based in London, Kentucky. Through his clinical work and writing, he explores the emotional challenges individuals and families face in relationships. His work focuses on helping people understand one another more deeply and strengthening the connections that hold families together.

References

Daminger, A. (2019). The cognitive dimension of household labor. American Sociological Review, 84(4), 609–633.

Gottman, J., & Silver, N. (2015). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. Harmony Books.

Overall, N. C., & Simpson, J. A. (2015). Attachment and relationship functioning. Current Opinion in Psychology, 1, 81–85.