Steady Mom

six months

If I could offer just one piece of parenting advice...

As a contributing author in the Mindful Parenting eBundle sale I received a host of questions & answers to think through, and I thought it would be fun to share my responses with you:

If I could give just one piece of advice to a parent, it would be:

Listen to your intuition above what you read in books or hear elsewhere. Books are a fabulous resource, but the only one who can truly know what your little one needs in any given moment or situation is you! So be your own expert and know that the best you have to offer is what your child needs most of all.

What prompted me to write Mindset for Moms:

My early years of motherhood were quite tumultuous. I slowly realized that my own negative thought patterns were the cause of much of my dissatisfaction. It was through challenging some of those self-defeating beliefs that I began to grow as a mom and as a woman. When I altered my thinking, many of my hidden hopes and ambitions began to appear in both subtle and incredible ways (stories I share in the book).

I wanted to share that process with others. The idea for the ebook came while I was taking a bath--as so many great ideas seem to--I rushed out and started furiously scribbling thoughts down (after putting on clothes!).

Do I think that the Internet has been a blessing, a curse, or something in between for parents?

The Internet is definitely a blessing for parents, but like any tool it can be a curse if we don't use it well. It can bring us closer to our families or take us further away. It can connect us with like-minded mothers or disconnect us from ourselves. It's all in the boundaries we draw around it and the role we allow it to play within our family life.

What was the most inspiring parenting book I've ever read?

How to Really Parent Your Child by Ross Campbell. I read this at a pivotal time when I was wrestling with many conflicting ideas from friends, books, and experts about parenting, especially when it came to discipline.

This book helped me begin to see the concept of discipline not in terms of punishment, but in the context of strengthening relationships.

How do I balance parenting with pursuing your other passions and goals?

My writing is so important to me that I now give my earliest hour of the day to it, so I know I've accomplished at least a bit toward that passion before my day has even begun.

I try to keep in mind as well that this season with my children, though it feels long at times, is always changing. It doesn't last that long when you look at the long-term perspective. Reminding myself of that helps me to treasure these valuable, special, never-to-return days with them while also not feeling guilty for making time for myself.

mindful parenting resources to help you on the journey

Note: This sale has ended, but you can still purchase any of the books that interest you individually!

This week I'm happy to let you know about a limited time offer: The Mindful Parenting eBundle sale.

The majority of the resources (20 out of the 22) in this package I've never seen in any ebook bundle around the web--so this is fresh and unique material, worth taking a peek at if you're trying to be a more mindful parent and could use a little help along the way.

This is a handpicked selection of e-books, workshops, e-magazines, and audio, with themes such as creativity and play, peaceful guidance, mindfulness for mothers, children and food, self-care and relaxation, and more.

Here's the total list of the resources included:

1. Parenting for Social Change by Teresa Graham Brett
2. A Unique 7-Step Parenting Tool: Sleep talking by Marcy Axness
3. Relaxation Meditation, audio by Amy Phoenix of Presence Parenting
4. Newbie's Guide to Positive Parenting by Rebecca Eanes of Positive Parents
5. Issue three of the Play Grow Learn magazine by Christie Burnett of Childhood 101
6. Getting Back on Track! Why We Explode and What We Can Do About it, audio by Genevieve Simperingham of Peaceful Parent Institute
7. Stress Relief for parents, audio by Genevieve Simperingham of Peaceful Parent Institute
8. Creative Play Workshop, email course by Gina Kimmel of Connecting Family and Seoul and Katherine Lockett of Creative Playhouse
9. Mindset for Moms by Jamie Martin
10. Moods of Motherhood by Lucy Pearce of Dreaming Aloud
11. 42 Rules for Divorcing with Kids by Melinda Roberts
12. Mommy Overwhelm by Laura Schuerwegen of Authentic Parenting
13. Nurturing Creativity, Guide for Busy Parents by Renee Tougas of Tougas Café
14. The Playful Family by Shawn Ledington Fink
15. Poetry of a Hobo Mama by Lauren Wayne of Hobo Mama
16. Encouraging Words for Kids by Kelly Bartlett of Parenting From Scratch
17. Raising a Creative Kid by Jillian Riley of A Mom With a Lesson Plan
18. Children and Food by Tara Wagner of The Organic Sister
19. Coming of Age, audio by DeAnna L'Am
20. The Parenting Primer, A Guide to Positive Parenting in the First Six Years by Michelle Carchrae of The Parent Vortex
21. API Live! Teleseminar Series: “8 Principles of Attachment Parenting” by Attachment Parenting International
22. The Mindful Mothering Challenge by Jennifer Saleem of Hybrid Rasta Mama.

Note: This sale has ended, but you can still purchase any of the books that interest you individually!

and then she was ten

Steve and I went to a backyard cookout with friends in Houston on Memorial Day. We flew down sans kids--our babes happily soaking in grandmother time as we happily reconnected for a few days.

We enjoyed celebrating the holiday with three other incredible families and their children: adorable sleeping babies, cute chubby-cheeked toddlers, and active, run-everywhere kindergartners. After we left that evening Steve and I once again had a realization:

We have entered a completely different season of parenting. We happened to be without kids that night, but even if they had been with us we wouldn't have wiped noses or changed diapers. Because our children are now eight, eight, and TEN.

That's right--Trishna reached doubledigits on May 22nd.

We have come a long way since she joined our family from India almost six years ago. I am so proud of this girl--who currently loves writing, stories, and light bulbs (yes, really).

Unless God places another child in our family, all our children will be adults in ten short years--our active parenting days over. It's a surreal feeling.

Intentional parenting starts out with a whole lot of work. Everything feels new, fresh, frightening, insecure. It takes a truckload of faith to listen to God's voice combined with your own, especially when those voices contradict the popular opinions of so-called "experts."

But I'm discovering that mindful parenting changes as the kids get older. Where my main role at one time involved sheltering, cocooning, and nurturing--this new one involves listening, opening doors, adventuring, and trusting.

And though this new phase--like any change--contains its own unique challenges, we also have the benefit of seeing some fruit from all the years of investment we've put in so far. We see a vision for our family beginning to take root, to grow, to create the family life we once imagined.

Watching our efforts in action gives courage for the journey ahead.

Happy birthday, Trishna. You are loved.

how to homeschool without actually homeschooling

From my post today on Simple Homeschool:

 

"At the start of the new year many of you completed a survey for those of us who blog under the Simple Living Media umbrella. I admit to being rather surprised when I found out that a significant percentage of those who read Simple Homeschool regularly are not actually homeschoolers.

Let me say it once and for all: Homeschooling or not, you are welcome here!

At its core, homeschooling is a lifestyle of intentionality when it comes to our kids' educations. Being intentional doesn't mean sending our kids to the school around the corner just because it's around the corner. Being intentional also doesn't mean homeschooling just because all your friends homeschool.

Intentionality means taking the time and effort necessary to give thought to what is best--for your children, yourself, and your family.

Maybe you went through that intentional process. Maybe the concept of homeschooling even intrigued you, but you ultimately decided it isn't for your family at the present moment. Yet you're always looking for ways to cultivate an atmosphere and a love of learning at home.

Did you know a new word has been invented to describe what you're doing?

It's called afterschooling. Here's how to do it well."

 

Click here to read the rest!