My father-in-law gave my husband profound advice instead of ‘the talk.’ He told his son to go to the playground and the other kids would give him answers to any questions he had. And that’s how the father of my children learned about sex. I asked my adult kids if …
7 Traits of Highly Sensitive People
Recently I discovered that I am a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), possessing an “innate sensitiveness” as Carl Jung originally coined it. In 1996, Dr. Elaine Aron’s groundbreaking work confirmed that 15-20% of the population has this trait of high sensory processing. The work of Dr. Ted Zeff explores how the …
3 Myths About Raising Successful Children
Many parents worry whether their children will be successful. One reason this is such a common concern is because we each have our own unique definition of success. Some adults recognize it as a prestigious job, family, status or possessions such as homes, cars and jewelry. Others use less tangible …
An Annual Reminder To Listen To Inner Guidance
Inner guidance is our birthright, our compass, and our lifelong companion. While some of us are born deeply connected to this stream of wisdom others must work to hear the soft whisper. Being born highly sensitive and deeply connected to my guidance has always served me, but none so well …
Intentional Parenting
What is Intentional Parenting? It is acting with knowledge and purpose, ensuring that young children acquire the social, emotional and cognitive skills needed to succeed in school and in life. Intentional Parenting goes beyond love. You can love your children and still create an environment of chaos, disorder, mistrust, shame …
7 Ways to Enrich Your Children’s Self-Esteem
1. WORK ON YOUR OWN SELF-ESTEEM: It is hard to give our children what we do not have ourselves. Our words do not teach. It is what you model and children experience that become their truth. 2. TAKE YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE STUFF THAT ANNOYS OR WORRIES YOU: …
The Illusion of Power
Each of us experiences thoughts and emotions that trigger us to disconnect from our sense of balance and clarity. Most parents believe that it is their children’s behavior that is responsible for the way they think and feel. This illusion gives all the power for our happiness over to our …
Kindness Must Be Modeled
There is a Chinese proverb that suggests this thought: “Peace in the world begins with peace in our homes. Peace in our homes begins with peace in our hearts.” It is part of a parent’s duty to be a role model for their children. If we want our children to …
Words Do Not Teach
This weekend I had the privilege of meeting an amazing dad. Our chance interchange happened as I was walking through the booths of a local photography exhibit. I stopped to admire some photos and the man started to tell me about his work. He said he had always loved …
Flashes of Connectedness
Parents often brush their child’s cries for validation of their worth aside. Adults are so focused on their own issues that they forget to appreciate the essence of the child’s perceptions. We can become so consumed with the pressures of modern living, earning money, and getting our own needs met …
Love and Accept Them
Whenever I meet someone who is creative, artistic, or moving through life to the beat of a somewhat different drum, I wonder what it was like to be that person’s mother. Just in case you are, indeed, the parent of a child who might experience the world a bit differently …
If Only…
If only the kids would act differently, I’d feel better.” We also think “if only my mate, my friend, my sibling, my parent, my governor, my president would act differently I would feel better.” Whenever we turn our well being over to the actions of someone else we have given …
Giving Away Our Power
“If only the kids would act differently, I’d feel better.” We also think, “If only my partner, my friend, my sibling, my parent, my boss, my president would act differently I would feel better.” Whenever we turn our well being over to the actions of someone else we have given …
The Myth of Perfection
I just came in from working in my garden. I usually leave the pruning and planting up to the talents of my husband but my perfectionist tendencies kicked in and I could no longer feel appreciation for the beauty that prevailed. I was immersed in noticing what needed to be …
One Tiny Shift
This past weekend we experienced an extraordinary event. Around the world we moved a number on our clocks and now our entire day is affected by the shift. This made me think about the power of one tiny shift. Just wonder… what would happen if we were willing to make …
Perspective
Most disagreements and misunderstandings come from different perspectives. We each experience life through our own unique filtering system and what appears to be absolute truth to one person may take on a totally different view to someone else. It is only natural that we will have different points of view. …
The Remedy for “TGF” (Taken for Granted)
Ah; how many times has a parent felt taken for granted? Children seem to just expect that laundry will be done, food will be prepared, they will be chauffeured to activities and the ‘stuff’ of daily living will be taken care of…. The remedy for TFG is awareness, consciousness and …
Is Your Child An Empath?
Children who are labeled as ‘highly sensitive,’ ‘intense reactors,’ or ‘overly emotional,’ may actually be empaths. Parents who have never experienced what it feels like to take in the overload of energy that constantly surrounds us are likely to misunderstand their empathic child’s behavior. In the same way that we …
Shift Towards Real Peace
I just watched a news report from the Middle East and found myself crying tears of despair. “How is it that humans get themselves into such situations?” I wondered. It became clear to me how seductive it is to be safe in our comfy homes, watch our big screen televisions …