Skip to main content

Share

It’s Been 5 Years: A Mom Processes Her Son’s Birth Story

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 31 May 2023

This morning, it snowed in Seattle. It reminded me of the night Max was born, almost exactly five years ago, when it was sunny and rainy and windy and then, in the middle of the night when we were upside-down with time and date, we looked out the window and saw snow swirling around.

How long has it been since your child's birth? How many times have you shared your birth story with others? How do you continue to celebrate the good and work through the challenges?

Is Diaper Nostalgia a Thing?

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 16 May 2023

I placed the diaper on the kitchen counter. I stared at it and felt a sense of relief and a hint of joy. Memories started to flood my mind.

What will you miss from this stage of parenting? How can you enjoy more of the time with your child in the moment?

A Mom Reflects on Her Lifeline: the Ever-Changing Village of Military Families

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 4 April 2023

While social media has made constant and instantaneous connection easier, there is nothing quite like going to a face-to-face meeting and interacting with other parents and their children in real time. Having a parents' group means having a common thread with other families to help us create a safe, still space when it seems that our world is constantly in motion.

Who is someone you could reach out to about meeting up at the park for a playdate and parent-to-parent conversation?

The Artist's Way for Parents: Interview with Julia Cameron, artist & creative coach

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 21 February 2023

Q: What are the benefits of parents tapping into their own creativity when it comes to their relationships with their children?

A: When you pay attention to the creativity of your child, you are connecting to a part of your child that is timeless. When you try to connect to your child's creativity and sense of wonder, you reawaken your own creativity and your own sense of wonder. If you focus on making it a safe and benevolent environment for your child to have self-expression, you then find yourself with a desire to have a safe, protected environment for yourself. The home becomes a sort of sanctuary, not only for your child's creativity but for your own.

Falling in Love with Our Children is Scary: 3 Tips to Make It Easier

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 14 February 2023

Falling in love with our kids is a daring thing to do. Love opens us up, wide open: no armor, no defenses. We're naked and vulnerable when we're in love. Love is powerful. It's not just cupids and chocolates and diamonds. Love is raw, open, vulnerable, crazy, courageous, light that shines on every dark corner, every unmet need, and everything we don't want to look at.

When can you practice bravely allowing yourself to fully love your child?

How to Squeeze One-on-One Time Into Your Day: 5 Ideas to Make It Work for You and Your Child

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 31 January 2023

One-on-one time is a great way to share pleasant time together, and scheduling daily one-on-one time (even if only a few minutes) is a great way to shape our days to ensure a routine of regular connection. It may not seem like it, but these few minutes a day goes a long way toward working together and solving problems when my child is in need of guidance.

What time during the day works best for you to spend a few focused minutes with your child?

Want to Raise a Creative Child? First, Believe You Are Creative in However That Looks for You! Then Open Up 15 Minutes of Your Day

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 28 March 2023

We tend to believe that only a few people are genuinely creative, that they are born knowing they are creative and that they go through life with that creative spark undimmed. But we are all creative, we all have a divine spark within us, we all have the capacity to tap into our originality, and we all have gifts whether we recognize them or not.

When can you set aside 15 minutes of today for something you love to do?

The First Building Block of HOPE: Relationships

Submitted by Rita Brhel on 23 February 2023

Research has shown that positive childhood experiences help children grow into healthy, resilient adults. These positive experiences can be categorized into what we call the four building blocks of HOPE. Let's take a deeper look at the first building block of HOPE: Relationships. 

But first, what is HOPE?