• Purposeful Parenthood

    Connecting with Children: What I’m Trying Right Now

    connecting with children: Henry and me in New York City

    About a year ago, I went through a Therapeutic Assessment process and learned that the start-up phase of building a non-profit organization and school was incredibly traumatic for me. I made a commitment to a “Year of Healing.” The year included letting myself watch Netflix whenever I wanted, napping whenever I had the urge, going to ongoing therapy, and visiting my girlfriends spontaneously one weekend in Virginia. I realized, though, that I didn’t prioritizing thinking about what kind of healing my children might need. They, too, experienced the stress of me being stressed for six years. This realization has led me to thinking about connecting with children and what I … Read More

  • Purposeful Parenthood

    Modern Parenting Meditation: What I’m Trying

    modern parenting meditation: Henry and me at a sculpture garden

    I read a lot about the increasing rates of anxiety in children and how parents are trying too hard to shape their children. It’s so easy for me to fall into these traps because of my own need to control, my tendency to look at life as one big project, and the insecurity I feel about my children being a reflection of me. I’ve been turning around the idea of a modern parenting meditation in my head for a while.

    Matt has been getting really into meditation lately. He listens to all sorts of audiobooks about it. He was explaining that one of the lectures he listened to talked … Read More

  • Purposeful Parenthood

    Throw Out the Routine Night: What We Are Doing

    Throw out the routine night: Henry, Tate and I on an adventure together

    We are such a schedule-driven family. It stems from a lot of things. My way of coping with an unpredictable childhood is to over-structure my life. We are also juggling parenting and two full-time jobs. Understanding what is going on—when—makes everything feel better. Matt says he appreciates the predictability. Our routines generally work well for us. But I know we will all benefit from a “throw out the routine night” every once in a while.

    But of course I have to plan the night that is supposed to feel like we are throwing out the plan.

    Since it is so stinkin’ hot right now, I’m thinking we should head to … Read More