A little ditty I wrote in my notebook one night. I like it.
Today is my birthday. Since becoming a mother myself, the meaning of my birthday has shifted significantly. Instead of being just about *me* it is as much about my mother - What she went through to bring me into the world - How her world shifted that day - and, How my birth marked the start of her journey as a mother.
My heart has been achy lately. It feels bruised. And strangely enough it's a good feeling - like the bitter-sweetness of dark chocolate. Looking at my kids and seeing all the ways they are growing and changing every day is an incredible experience. Love flares and spreads like wild fire through my body, electrifying my muscles with energy that can hardly be contained. And I imagine that my mom feels that for me, and it is a little strange to think about.
My heart has been achy lately. It feels bruised. And strangely enough it's a good feeling - like the bitter-sweetness of dark chocolate. Looking at my kids and seeing all the ways they are growing and changing every day is an incredible experience. Love flares and spreads like wild fire through my body, electrifying my muscles with energy that can hardly be contained. And I imagine that my mom feels that for me, and it is a little strange to think about.
Achy heart - red and blue mixing together to a bruisy purple. Emanating light always.
It's a tricky business navigating this parenting gig. And mostly we can figure it out on our own. But sometimes it is helpful to find guides - people that have already been down a path we are just starting out on, or dare devils - people who like to seek thrills and try new things before the rest of us - or poets - people who can put into words what most of only feel in our bones.
I've often thought how silly it seems that we have extensive courses helping women learn about "natural" childbirth - I mean wouldn't that confuse a woman from a tribal culture? Why do we need hours and hours of classes to learn about something that our bodies are made to do? The answer, of course, is that we have become disconnected.
The same is true about parenting. Ideally, we don't need books or classes to help us be our best selves and parents. But the world we live in is not ideal. It's busy and stressful; it's the age of over-information and super-speedy convenience; it's hyper-connected and disconnected all at once.
So yes, we can figure things out on our own. But I know from personal experience that sometimes we can get where we want to be a little faster and with a little more ease if we accept help or wisdom in some form. What we don't need is "experts". No, we need loving, compassionate, imperfect humans to share with us their experiences and what has worked for them. This is the way we can help each other.
I've been advertising this eBundle sale pretty hard-core this past week. Some of you may be sick of hearing about it, and if that's the case you can just stop reading now. But I jumped on board with this because I believe fully in what all of these amazing women are about. I've been following many of them for a long time now, so I know where their hearts are and what their intentions are. And they line up perfectly with mine. I've seen in my own life that when I give myself permission to show that I value myself, my children and husband, and our relationships, by spending money on a product that excites or intrigues me, I am never disappointed. I always learn and grow; our lives always benefit.
I've often thought how silly it seems that we have extensive courses helping women learn about "natural" childbirth - I mean wouldn't that confuse a woman from a tribal culture? Why do we need hours and hours of classes to learn about something that our bodies are made to do? The answer, of course, is that we have become disconnected.
The same is true about parenting. Ideally, we don't need books or classes to help us be our best selves and parents. But the world we live in is not ideal. It's busy and stressful; it's the age of over-information and super-speedy convenience; it's hyper-connected and disconnected all at once.
So yes, we can figure things out on our own. But I know from personal experience that sometimes we can get where we want to be a little faster and with a little more ease if we accept help or wisdom in some form. What we don't need is "experts". No, we need loving, compassionate, imperfect humans to share with us their experiences and what has worked for them. This is the way we can help each other.
I've been advertising this eBundle sale pretty hard-core this past week. Some of you may be sick of hearing about it, and if that's the case you can just stop reading now. But I jumped on board with this because I believe fully in what all of these amazing women are about. I've been following many of them for a long time now, so I know where their hearts are and what their intentions are. And they line up perfectly with mine. I've seen in my own life that when I give myself permission to show that I value myself, my children and husband, and our relationships, by spending money on a product that excites or intrigues me, I am never disappointed. I always learn and grow; our lives always benefit.
Click on this graphic to learn more about these amazing resources and buy your bundle today!
This blog post is my birthday gift to myself. I'd love for you to check out the resources in the Mindful Parenting eBundle and share it with others. Consider it a gift to me. There is so much soul-soothing, heart-warming, practical wisdom in these resources. Give yourself and your family a gift today. As the man trying to sell Mike and I that Honda Pilot years ago said (over and over), "You deserve it." :-)
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