Let’s start with mama guilt. Why do I feel that I should be with my daughter 24 hours a day? Why do I want to be with her all the time? I know that’s how bonding hormones work: the more contact, the more you want. And I believe in being with your child lots and …
Sitting in bed, holding my sleeping baby girl in my arms, feeling her breathe, gazing at her perfect sweet face.
Over the last few days I’ve realized that I’m infected to an unhealthy degree with mom guilt. I never expected to be affected as much as I have been. I thought I had a reasonable sense of my own limits and needs and that I would be able to take care of my daughter while …
As I’ve been in the mediation course the last 3 days I’ve been thinking more about my daughter and our relationship. This was my first serious stretch of time away from her. It was okay, but I realized that I definitely prefer maternity leave. And I loooooove my daughter and love being with her! Today …
Peace in the family is an ongoing renegotiated dynamic. Peace with one’s family (aka acceptance, unconditional love) is similarly constantly changing. Our family is getting physically closer. My sister & her family are living in town for a month or two and hope to relocate to a nearby town. My youngest brother is moving back …
Letting go of ridiculous expectations is one of those things I know will make life more peaceful. Yet unrealistic expectations (aka perfectionism) are grooved into my psyche and it takes constant conscious effort to retrack my thoughts. The thoughts inevitably lead to guilt when I don’t meet expectations and all the attendant emotions reduce my …
Being at peace with yourself – aka being in the moment, detachment, self-love, other synonyms – has the side benefit of helping you tune into your environment and those around you. I realized today how much this can enrich parenting. We are doing a watered-down version of elimination communication EC with Baby where we put …
Baby is still awake as I type, wriggling in a [break to go nurse wriggling and tired baby, followed by rocking sleeping baby, followed by walking with crying baby, followed by trying to lie baby down to sleep while still crying which actually works for the first time, combined with some gentle jiggling] carrier. It’s …
At some point I will break out and add something new to the routine, but for now, deepening the few things I’ve just started is extremely rewarding. It is satisfying to be praying more regularly. It is relaxing to be doing some breathing time (most) days. It is enriching and the whole point of it …
It’s not quite a zen koan, but it is a real paradox I faced today. Meditating every day is actually sometimes hard to do. Only 4 days in and well … I haven’t meditated 4 times. So today while baby napped I thought it was a great opportunity to try sitting beside her on the …