Transitions happen all the time. Schools out. Summer’s here. Vacations, camp, back-to-school, moving, sleep schedules, birthdays, illness. All of these shifts can throw a person off kilter. Trying to get back to center where equanimity reigns can feel like an uphill battle. So many of us instinctively push away our strong feelings because they seem scary and uncomfortable. Tara Brach talks about meeting life where it is. She
Learn more »
We moms are so busy that sometimes we lose the connection to our creative selves. Read on for some thoughts/resources on how to find your “flow” and help bring your heart and mind together from Guest Blogger, Amy Tatsumi. What makes you feel alive? What allows you to be connected to your true self? For some, it is singing or dancing when no one
Learn more »
There is an incredible new Scorsese documentary about George Harrison called, Living in the Material World out on DVD this month. The film itself is magical and seamless; filled with never before seen footage and interviews. Harrison, who found his way to meditation and touched so many people’s lives with his generosity of spirit said in 1974, “Everybody’s looking for something…. We don’t have to look anywhere–it’s
Learn more »
As busy moms we spend our days balancing our own needs with those of of others. Here’s an example: It’s 8 PM and you are exhausted. It has been getting harder and harder to get the kids to sleep on time and you feel like your spouse isn’t helping you the way you’d like. This may sound like prime fodder for a blowout fight
Learn more »
It can be challenging to support your child sometimes if they are wired to be a little on the anxious or intense side. These periods of overwhelm often strike without warning. Sleepovers, tests, teams, all these can trigger anxiety or upset which can lead to worry, sleep problems, and general stress. As parents, it can be hard to hold these emotions because it just
Learn more »
Like many other topics that are covered in the media, the issue of bullying is a worrisome one. Many parents are fearful that their child will be bullied at school. Luckily, there are powerful ways we can support our children so they have something to fall back on should the situation arise. One emerging approach is that kindness and mindfulness can stop bullying in
Learn more »
Here’s the scenario: The baby was up one extra time in the night and you’re feeling groggy this morning. Despite your exhaustion, you manage to get your three year-old ready for school and successfully load both kids into the car. On the way, you all sing and joke around together. Upon arrival, you congratulate yourself for being on time with two relatively cheerful kids
Learn more »
Becoming a mom can be a huge adjustment. While you are pregnant it is all about taking care of you. But once the baby arrives, the focus immediately shifts and all of a sudden you are spending most of your time taking care of your baby. Work, fun, and leisure time used to be relatively easy to balance. But as a new mom, it
Learn more »
Last week I wrote about the new science of self-compassion in the Washington Post blog, ‘On Parenting.’ Writing that post got me thinking about how our society treats us when we first become mothers. I wonder if this could be part of why it’s so hard for us to actually be kind to ourselves? Think back to when you were first pregnant; a happy
Learn more »
The early years with young kids is often remembered as a sleep- deprived time accompanied by unavoidable squabbles with our partners. This may seem like a rite of passage, but is there a way for parent couples to stay connected in the face of the everyday resentments that can pop up along the way? John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman think there is. The
Learn more »
