With the longer days and brighter light, we have an opportunity to create a sense of balance between the darkness and the light – in our lives, in our parenting, and in our attitudes. So how can we begin to rebirth a positive mindset and welcome the return of the light, particularly as parents?
New Year’s resolutions can be tedious. We seem to recycle the same objectives year after year, often setting ourselves up for failure: lose weight, get fit, save money, etc. This year I’m tired of adult resolutions. They seem like one more thing to add to my never-ending “to do” list. Instead, my only resolutions for 2022 are going to be to live life more like my children.
Gratitude, like mindfulness, is a practice. It requires time, effort, and consistent attention to be cultivated. All of that seems near impossible if you are a busy parent, but the practice of gratitude can be sown in the briefest of moments. It starts with being aware and having presence. Being aware of our present moment creates the opportunity for gratitude, even when that moment might be a challenging one.
I was born a “not enough” person. I’m not sure where it all began but my parents would recount stories of my utter distress in kindergarten when I didn’t earn a gold star from the teacher. In high school, they repeatedly told me to fail something so that I could learn that my world would not end when I did. I was a born Type A – highly motivated, always striving, and never getting to enough.
We wanted to pass along some simple, doable ideas on how to incorporate care, support, and nurturing for ourselves into our already busy, and sometimes chaotic, lives. Although some of these are specific to mothers, most apply to anyone looking for some attainable self-nurturing. If you only do one thing today, take a minute to breathe deeply and sit still.
