Steady Mom

The Dangers of Having a Motherhood Mentor

Photo by knottyboy

Think of a mother you admire, someone you look up to. Perhaps it is an author from a parenting book, writer of a blog, your own mother, or a neighbor down the street.

Think of how incredible she is and send love to her in your thoughts.

Now forget her--at least for a while.

The danger of having a motherhood mentor is that in our thoughts we praise her, while in our thoughts we criticize ourselves.

We can never measure up to the imagined ideal we create someone else to be.

Mentors are wonderful, but you don't have to be a parenting author to be the best mother to your kids.

Or a blogger with lovely photos.

Or your mom who always seems to know what to say.

Or that neighbor with unending patience.

You are you. And that is more than enough of exactly what your children need.

 

Invest in Yourself in 2012

It's natural this time of year to think about making the most of our days and our potential. So I wanted to pass along two upcoming opportunities that have personally benefited me and may be a help to you as well.

Designed for Wellness - Lisa Byrne, of Well-Grounded Life, has been teaching this e-course for over a year now, and I had the privilege of participating in 2010. I had reached a place of feeling burned out, with low energy, and in need of some refreshment and re-focus. This course, which incorporates nutrition with Lisa's excellent holistic life coaching, came into my life at just the right time.

I'm blessed to call Lisa a virtual friend and I'm also an affiliate for her course, which begins January 16th. That means that if anyone enrolls using this link it benefits me and my family as well. And until New Year's Day, Lisa is offering an awesome 2-for-1 deal (You can enroll and give a free enrollment to a friend!).

Whole Foods Kitchen - Some of you may remember when I went vegan for 30 days last year. That was part of an e-course from the lovely Heather of beauty that moves. Now she's at it again and has created a three month e-course called Whole Foods Kitchen.

It runs from February - April. I can always use a boost to maintain my whole foods enthusiasm, so I'm really looking forward to learning more from Heather in 2012.

Whatever it may look like, find a way to invest in yourself in the new year!

 

6 Rules to Live By to Make 2012 Your Best Year Ever

1. Expect the best, not the worst.

2. Live complaint-free.

3. Pay attention to your intuition and do what comes naturally. Follow the Spirit's leading.

4. Write down the vision and dreams you have for your family, and read them often.

5. Live with gratitude, always in the present moment.

6. Make your life a generous one--serving and giving, fulfilling your own unique life's mission.

2011 was incredible; 2012 will be even better!

 

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Christmas 2011 will be remembered as the year when:

• Jonathan decided to spend his money to buy stamps "so I can send mail to myself, Mommy!"
• one child had a clothing malfunction in a restaurant that left us both gasping with laughter
• we surprised the children with tickets to the Nutcracker ballet--their first time to a theater
• we sat through an entire Christmas Eve church service as a family for the first time--with only one potty trip required in the middle of it
• I had an entire hour to myself on Christmas morning to start a fire, sip tea, put our homemade cinnamon rolls in the over, and anticipate
• Elijah said to me, "I'm thankful, even though I didn't get a stuffed dragon."
• we got our first taste of Christmas in the country

I hope your days were also merry and bright!

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