Dr. Patricia Fox - Clinical Psychologist

12/29/2025

Adam Grant on narcissism and leadership. I so appreciate his wisdom.

". . . since women are less likely to be narcissists and psychopaths — and more likely to prioritize the collective good. Countries with more female legislators are less likely to go to war, and peace agreements involving women are 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years. In the early stages of the pandemic, countries and U.S. states led by women had lower Covid-19 fatality rates, in part because they did a better job showing both confidence in their plans and empathy for people’s pain. And organizational psychologists have found that when male leaders are stressed, they’re more likely to be hostile and abusive. Tell me again that women are too emotional to lead."

We should know better.

12/27/2025

Women disproportionately take on the mental load of managing a household. The significant increase in health insurance premiums only added to that mental load this holiday season.

Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr. Congressman Dan Meuser Senator Dave McCormick U.S. Senator John Fetterman

Figuring out the insurance options for families often falls to women. Some say they're delaying marriage, taking side jobs, and putting their kids on Medicaid as premium prices shoot up in 2026.

12/27/2025

Plan a financial health day! Better yet, make a financial health day a regular part of your routine.

12/24/2025

This is how philanthropy is done.

From the article: This contrast raises a broader question about how the ultra-wealthy contribute to society. Many economists, policy experts, and a substantial portion of the American public argue that billionaires should contribute more of their fair share to society through taxation, especially at a time of extreme economic inequality. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that about 60% of adults are "bothered a lot" that corporations and wealthy people don't pay their fair share in taxes, with an additional 20% saying it bothers them "some."

In northeast Pennsylvania, 3 out of 4 of the Congressman "representing" citizens are ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNW). That is, individuals with a net worth of $30 million or more. They reap significant tax benefits under the OBBBA.

Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr. - estimated net worth between $36.83 million and $48 million
Congressman Dan Meuser - $84.9 million
Senator Dave McCormick - $175 million
U.S. Senator John Fetterman - $1.65 million

No gilded letters. No renaming buildings after herself. No hand-picked boards assembled to sing her praises. For MacKenzie Scott, it's about funding the work, not feeding the ego.

In just six years since her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott has emerged as one of history's most transformative philanthropists, donating an extraordinary $26.3 billion to more than 2,700 nonprofits addressing society's most pressing challenges. Her approach -- no strings attached, no naming rights, no galas -- stands in stark contrast to Bezos, who has given approximately $3-4 billion in his lifetime (roughly 1.5% of his $240-250 billion fortune).

Scott's approach prioritizes unrestricted funding and trust in organizations' expertise, creating ripple effects that have revitalized entire sectors from education to affordable housing. Her catalytic impact includes record-breaking donations to key organizations: $436 million to Habitat for Humanity, $122.6 million to Big Brothers Big Sisters, $84.5 million to Girl Scouts of the USA, and $100 million to Grameen America.

Meanwhile, Bezos' priorities tell a different story. The disparity between their philanthropic commitments was highlighted as Bezos reportedly spent an estimated $50 million on his extravagant three-day wedding celebration this year with Lauren Sánchez in Venice, Italy, including private jet transportation for guests, luxury accommodations at five-star hotels, and opulent events aboard his $500 million superyacht.

This contrast raises a broader question about how the ultra-wealthy contribute to society. Many economists, policy experts, and a substantial portion of the American public argue that billionaires should contribute more of their fair share to society through taxation, especially at a time of extreme economic inequality. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that about 60% of adults are "bothered a lot" that corporations and wealthy people don't pay their fair share in taxes, with an additional 20% saying it bothers them "some."

These views run contrary to Trump's tax policy direction, which prioritizes tax reductions for the wealthiest Americans rather than asking them to contribute to the collective well-being and advancement of American society. This prioritization of the rich is now enshrined in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." Of the legislation's roughly $4 trillion in tax breaks, just 200,000 of the wealthiest households will receive approximately $500 billion -- averaging $250,000 each over the next decade -- while the bottom 10% of households will lose an average of $1,600 per year due to cuts to Medicaid and food assistance.

Until systemic tax reforms ensure billionaires contribute their fair share, MacKenzie Scott's exemplary generosity stands as a powerful example of what genuine commitment to social responsibility looks like. Scott's principled approach sets a powerful precedent that other ultra-wealthy individuals would do well to follow, channeling their wealth back to the communities and workers that built their vast fortunes.

For Mighty Girl books that teach children about the importance of giving -- both through charity and community service -- you can find many reading recommendations in our blog post: "Making an Impact: 40 Mighty Girl Books About Charity and Community Service” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10983

For an excellent way to make donating to charity a regular part of your child’s life, we recommend a divided piggy bank that includes a separate chamber for charitable donations -- two of our favorites are the Moonjar Moneybox (https://www.amightygirl.com/moonjar-classic) and the Smart Pig Trio Bank (https://www.amightygirl.com/smart-piggy-trio-bank)

For an insightful parenting book focused on raising kind kids, we highly recommend “UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World” at https://www.amightygirl.com/unselfie

For two wonderful books that help foster children's compassion for others by giving them a visual way to think about kindness, we also recommend "Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids" for ages 4 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/have-you-filled-a-bucket-today) and "Growing Up With A Bucket Full Of Happiness" for ages 9 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/growing-up-with-a-bucket-full-of-happiness)

For more empathy-building book for young kids about the importance of compassion and being kind to others, visit our blog post "25 Children's Books That Teach Kids to Be Kind," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=19359

Thanks to Hear Her Stories for sharing this image!

12/24/2025

12/22/2025

Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr. and Congressman Dan Meuser enjoying the annual holiday event, the Pennsylvania Society dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.

Mr. Bresnahan and Mr. Meuser, who "represent" two of the poorest districts in Pennsylvania, pay for this event themselves, using a mix of personal funds, corporate accounts, or campaign money. Taxpayer dollars are not used.

12/22/2025

Dec. 21 is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Susan Cooper, who wrote the solstice poem "The Shortest Day," collaborated with illustrator Carson Ellis on a new picture book.

12/21/2025

Sky watchers may be tempted out this weekend, when an underappreciated meteor shower will coincide with a new moon and the longest night of year for the Northern Hemisphere

12/20/2025

Helpful holiday tips.

12/19/2025

Congressman Rob Bresnahan Jr. Congressman Dan Meuser Senator Dave McCormick U.S. Senator John Fetterman

With subsidies that give consumers extra help paying their health insurance premiums set to expire, lawmakers are again debating the Affordable Care Act. The difference this time: It’s happening in the middle of ACA open enrollment.

12/19/2025

Higher-income families clearly gain the most benefit from these accounts. They can maximize the $5,000 annual contributions, take full advantage of compound growth over 18 years, and have the financial literacy and resources to manage these accounts effectively. The structure essentially provides another tax-advantaged savings vehicle to families already using 529 plans and IRAs.

Lower-income families receive the seed money but may struggle to add meaningful contributions, limiting the long-term impact. While the government deposit gives children from all backgrounds some market exposure, the wealth-building potential remains modest without sustained contributions that many families cannot afford.

Head over to trumpaccounts.gov for the official overview of Trump Accounts, a new savings tool to help give American children a jumpstart on building long-term financial security.