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 …
The Pleasure of Be-ing
I have a routine in the early morning that includes sipping a cup of coffee while checking my emails. Usually my dog is content to eat his breakfast and curl up on the floor while I’m deep in concentration. This morning he seemed to be off a bit… whining… wanting …
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 …
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. …
All is Well
What would happen if you had a crystal ball and you knew *for sure* that everything would turn out just right? You could stop fussing and enjoy the moment. You might breathe deeper and notice your mind chatter dissipate. Perhaps you’d feel eager with anticipation for life’s unfolding. Right now, …
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 …
Getting Kids to Talk
Parents often lament that their children don’t talk to them and when they do they give one word answers, “Fine.” “Nothing.” When children are little they jabber freely, sharing their thoughts, questions, desires, needs, feelings and vivid imaginations. Many times adults meet this outpouring of their inner world with condescendence, …
Our Inner Little Girl
We still carry our little girls around inside of us and our physical, emotional and spiritual history sometimes gets in the way of being the mother we dreamed of being. Moms are just little girls who grew into a bigger body. Becoming a mom is a rite of passage that …
Successful Parenting
Successful parents are willing~ Willing to look inward… Willing to wonder… Willing to try new approaches… Willing to think new thoughts… Willing to take things less personally… Willing to forgive… Willing to let go… Willing to shift limiting beliefs…
Judgement to Joy
We were sitting in a restaurant when I noticed the young couple in the corner. They were snuggling and kissing and just plain lovin’ each other. My initial thought was that it seemed inappropriate, but I realized if I stopped judging I would free myself to enjoy their sweet energy. …
Getting Them to Talk
Parents sometimes lament that their children don’t talk to them and when they do they give one word answers, “Fine.” “Nothing.” When children are little they jabber freely, sharing their thoughts, questions, desires, needs, feelings and vivid imaginations. Many times adults meet this outpouring of their inner world with condescendence, …
Love or Fear
As parents we know how it feels to love our children and to also worry about them. I have learned, however, that while we can experience sensing the feelings of love and fear we cannot live in both at the same time. What does this actually mean? It translates in …
Redefining Old Truths
Growing up as a child in New York, I learned that there were four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. While there were variations during the year, kids could pretty much depend on flowers blooming in the spring, taking trips to the beach in the summer, playing in the …
It’s All In Our Perception
I was taking my daily walk when I passed an elementary school playground with children at recess. “You’re lucky!” a young girl shouted to me. “Why do you say that?” I smiled back. “Because you’re free to take a walk and I’m stuck in school!” I thought that her perception …
Mind Chatter
You do not want your children to behave well because they fear you. You want them to make good choices because it feels good, because they want to and because they are in their own power when they do so. YOUR WORK is to shift the mind-chatter that takes their …
Your Children Mirror Your Inner World
Our children can feel our energy. They take in our stress, our fears, our joy, our love. It travels through their bodies, their hearts, their minds and comes out in their behavior. What is your child’s behavior telling you about yourself? If there is anything you would like to change …