We see it often in parenting literature: in order to be as patient, kind, loving as we want to be as parents, we need to fill our cup. This series of articles is intended to help parents explore self-care and recognize the pitfalls faced in implementing it. We’ll begin with a focus on the underlying [...]
A parent’s self care is often a missing piece in parenting advice. We need to be as loving and respectful to ourselves as we are with our children. Therefore, when addressing whining and complaining, we must strike a balance between attending to underlying feelings AND setting loving boundaries to avoid negative behavior and communication patterns. [...]
Six years ago on Saturday, my water had broken and I was eagerly awaiting contractions, ready to meet my baby girl. The way her birth unfolded was a surprise to me and completely out of my control. Compared to my 40 hour labor with my son, once things got rolling with castor oil she was [...]
It is delciously soul satisfying when you find that sweet spot of meeting a need while also doing what you love. This is what I feel after each Wonder, Love, and Connection playgroup. For a long time, as I supported mothers in conscious, self-compassionate mothering , I have been aware of the need for a [...]
Today, I offered Maya a bite of my sandwich so she could try the sauce. She made a face that looked like ‘I don’t want to,’ but she didn’t say anything, so I said, “Oh you don’t have to.” She laughed and said with confidence, “I know I don’t have to take a bite if [...]
As a mother, who knows the importance of being prepared, I completely understand why there is so much worry about the potential radiation effects from the crisis in Japan. However, what I am hearing alot of is FEAR…and some are capitalizing on this for their own self interest. I want to put out a simple [...]
You better watch out, you better not cry, You better not pout, I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town! I am astounded at Christmas time, how much talk there is about being “good or bad,” “naughty or nice.” At first I edited books while reading, skipping over those parts in stories I [...]
This past holiday week, I heard many talking about how we know there is so much to be grateful for. Consciously we know it…and can even list our blessings easily. Yet for many this year, the spirit of gratitude; the deep welling up of recognition that one is truly blessed, was harder to muster. Many [...]
The end of summer brings with it a frenzy of activities whether school, work, sports or the upcoming holidays…and it is easy to become overwhelmed by our schedules. This compounded by the fact that with all of our modern technologies (lights, cars, cell phones) we tend to push ourselves beyond our natural rhythm. Observing and [...]
This past week, I had separate conversations with two women who began to cry as they shared the difficult things in their lives. We were in public, and although they both felt relief at sharing, they intentionally put on their sunglasses to hide their tears. Yes, I know , there are many practical reasons for [...]
