Innate Wholeness

One of the ways I have grown as a parent is through considering various view points from caring parents. Recently, some mommas from the Natural Parents Network team submitted favorite posts to share with readers. I joined in and offer you multiple views from many mommas. They range from miscarriage to maintaining balance to boredom busting – and quite a bit in between. Enjoy!

Joella – Fine and Fair – An Unusual Gripe with Bebe Gloton

Amy at Innate Wholeness offers simple tips to be present with family whether you’re having fun and want to soak it up like a sponge or would rather run and hide in a cave. (If you didn’t read it before, you might enjoy it now.)

Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares sound bites from her miscarriage journey of forgiveness and gratitude.

Shannon H – Pineapples and Artichokes – Let’s Talk About Diversity – Shannon writes about how she is trying to raise her daughter to be accepting of everyone.

Jennifer – Hybrid Rasta Mama – Don’t Say No To Me discusses the overuse of the word “no” and offers some aid in finding creative ways to avoid “no.” (Watch for an upcoming article from me on teaching children how to accept no gracefully).

Melissa – The New Mommy Files: Memories, Milestones and Missteps – The Case for Instinctual Mothering

Amanda at Let’s Take the Metro shares a comprehensive list of all the food she keeps on hand.

Suchada – Mama Eve – Sleep, Crying, and Balancing Closeness with Boundaries

Shannon R – The ArtsyMama – Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before Little Man

Kristin – Intrepid Murmurings – Babywearing Twins: Tips and Tricks for Babywearing Two

Julia at A Little Bit of All of It tells the story of how motherhood came to her and how a miscarriage shaped her feelings and perceptions surrounding the birth of her first daughter.

Emily – Embrita Blogging – 10 Things That Make Me Happy

Lauren – Hobo Mama – Postpartum sex vs. sex before kids

As part of an ongoing series about balance, Amy at Anktangle writes about a daily ritual she has adopted to help her maintain balance in her life.

Cynthia at The Hippie Housewife is reminded that while the days may sometimes be long, the years are short, and after a rough day the best thing to do is give thanks for the best parts and try again tomorrow.

Dionna at Code Name: Mama offers 7 Alternatives to Good Job: “Good job’ing” kids can be a mindless habit to fall into. Instead of using a generic “good job,” try one of these ideas to really connect with and nurture your child.

Darcel @ The Mahogany Way has the ultimate boredom busting activity for children of all ages.

Alicia at Lactation Narration discusses the long journey of child-led weaning, during which she thought several times that her child was weaned before she really was.

Mandy @ Living Peacefully With Children: Letting go of the illusion of control opens up a an entirely new world.

Luschka @ Diary of a First Child talks about the battle between breastfeeding and formula feeding mothers and the industry that stokes the flames of a war on mothers.

Mary Michael @ The Accidental Natural Mama recounts her journey to Mama-hood.

Momma Jorje shares some good news and important information about Lindane and Lice.

 | Comment

Cameras have come a long way since the parents of today were children. The new digital cameras snap shots with ease and instantly show the image on a tiny screen so you can retake, enjoy, and take some more! What happens if you don’t have your camera though? Surely there’s a time you’ve forgotten it…

Bring out the Whole Body Camera – one that you always have with you.

As a parent one of your greatest tools in the plethora you may have in your tool box is certainly the Whole Body Camera. And you’re using it already so it’s worth using in a way that actually serves you and your child.

You might have noticed that you can recall the moments your child does not act the way you would prefer – all too well. You probably even remember the feeling that accompanies the not so desirable situation. Is it as easy to recall the moments where they are playing happily, sharing, feeling confident, respecting themselves and others and cooperating?

Start by setting the intention to bring your awareness to the times your child is simply playing quietly, happy with him or herself, doing what pleases him and you, cooperating, and sharing. Depending on your child’s age you may have additional ideas to insert here. Start taking notice when this happens. Then stop what you are doing and take a picture, but don’t take just a mental/visual picture.

This picture is a bit more elaborate than the standard photo a digital camera would take. Choose to soak up every detail of your child’s in-the-moment well being. How does she look? What is she wearing? How does she hold her body when she feels that way? How do you feel as you watch him? What things does he say or do? Any particular scent in the air? What do you hear – giggles or silence? Hold onto the feeling you have as you observe your child. Take it in with all of your senses – the Whole Body Camera.

Practice this exercise and access it when times don’t feel so peaceful and happy. When you choose to recall experiences that feel better you will be able to influence the not so much fun situation with more calm and ease – which helps your child do the same!

This is an excerpt from Tune In Exercises for Parents.

 | 3 comments

In this series I highlight some really simple ways you can honor your child and yourself. When these facets of life are honored a good portion of “problems” will not ever make it to “problem” status.

Simple Way to Honor Your Child and Yourself #2

Follow and embrace life’s natural rhythm – expansion, contraction, stillness… expansion, contraction, stillness...

You can easily get in touch with this rhythm through bringing attention to your breath.  As you inhale your lungs expand, as you exhale your lungs contract, and right in between before you inhale again is an ever present space of stillness from which everything manifests.

What does this have to do with honoring yourself and your child?

When you choose to embrace life’s rhythm you bring your child and yourself into harmony with the deepest part of you, your child, and the world.

You might start by observing the activities of your family to see what rhythm is present.  It is there and does not need to be re-created, but rather nourished so it fits in line with your overall focus.

Expanding activities bring about growth, exploration, or vigor and excitement in you and your child while contracting activities bring about introspection, quiet contemplation, or a sense of relaxation.  The stillness represents a rest period or peaceful transition to another activity to continue the rhythm.

How are you already honoring yourself and your child through life’s natural rhythm and how can you nourish what already exists to enhance your lives?

 | Comment