Welcome, time to relax and read ...

The reality is that the half-term period will trigger different emotions. The key is to focus on the connection we make with our children as we collaboratively create a schedule that favours everyone. Be open to trial and error, and communicate this with them. What doesn’t work can be revised next time.

As parents, we must accept that we carry wounds and scars, both consciously and unconsciously. Striving for meaningful change while parenting is a process. It often feels uncomfortable, but we must summon the courage to confront the monsters that emerge from limiting beliefs. The journey toward meaningful change begins when we recognise these triggers in our parenting. The best part is, identifying points at which the triggers show up.

Most parents, have had the privilege of witnessing their baby’s first reaction to music. Without hesitation, they move some part of themselves, if not their whole body, and enjoy the sound with full expression and contentment. There's no fear of being perceived as uncool or out of control. So, what happened, if we all started from a place where we could experience song, dance, and laughter uninhibitedly? Judgment (one of shame’s ingredients).

Reflecting on finding meaningful work, I often wonder how many 'supposed tos' I've unintentionally placed on my children. Am I encouraging them to explore their gifts and talents as they wish? Do I interfere by inserting my views, especially when they differ from mine or societal norms? Can I offer guidance without interference; yet imparting wisdom? Can I offer correction while maintaining order without discouragement? These questions are endless.

Anxiety is a normal emotion we all experience in various ways. It becomes a disorder when it is excessive, persistent, and interferes with our daily lives. As a new parent, I've learned firsthand how easily one can slip into a deeper trench of anxiety. While some anxiety is normal, excessive anxiety is detrimental to our infants. Research shows that infants are sensitive to our emotions and parental stress can lead to stress in infants too.

Similar to the requirement of play in our lives for wholehearted living, is the need to rest too. As parents, our long lists often keep running in our minds even in bed. Despite knowing how vital rest is, we have normalised overstretching ourselves, promising rest later and somehow also passing this lesson to our children. As much as technology has favoured us in many ways by reducing the amount of time-consuming work we engage in, we seem to have decided that accomplishments

As most things go with parenting, the physical attachment we have with our children, in infancy, must evolve to an emotional bond; finally evolving to a psychological attachment. We need to be their safest emotional-cushion to land on when they struggle to process something that is going on in their peer-world. We need to model language and behaviour that fosters internal approval rather than comparison.

Intuition is our ability to hold spaced for uncertainty and our willingness to trust the many ways we’ve developed knowledge and insight, including instinct, experience, faith and reason. Faith is a place of mystery, where we can find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of out fear of uncertainty. Without leaning into my intuition, getting through the weekend would have been tough.

For a long time, I thought joy and happiness were the same thing and gratitude was the prayers you mumbled before dinner. As shared in my previous post, I became a parent for the first time during the pandemic period—a time that really shone a spotlight on my relationship with scarcity and my fear of the unknown. It felt like there were very few places I could call safe, and I was constantly worried about the health risks for both me and my baby.

I vividly remember my baby at two weeks old, crying incessantly at 2 a.m., despite being fed, dry, warm, and held dearly. I felt a deep frustration that I tried to attribute to exhaustion. I couldn't understand why the so-called "joy" of motherhood was nowhere to be found when I needed it most. The frustration grew exponentially, and I marched downstairs to where my mum was sleeping and left the baby with her—I couldn't take it anymore.

Perfect. Perfectionist. Perfectionism. Words we often use without realising the scars they leave behind. The sad truth is that many of us who struggle with these concepts began forming their roots in childhood. We were constantly trying to meet the expectations of the adults around us—figuring out what they needed, what made them criticise us, what we did that was inadequate, and what about us was unacceptable.

In today's world, the terms "authentic" and "authenticity" are often overused, sometimes losing their true meaning.

Practicing love and belonging is no small feat. It requires work—internal recognition, a presence within oneself that acknowledges the gremlins at play and an understanding of which limiting beliefs are trying to take control. Not to mention, it involves momentary reliving of adverse childhood experiences. When you practice love and belonging as a parent, you realise it's not just for your children but for yourself too. It's a journey that requires the fighter in you.

On my previous post, I explored love and what it means for me, particularly with the most commonly known concepts of love i.e. the languages. I have established that love is spiritual, something that can be inherently felt for another as you feel for yourself. It’s built through connection, trust and vulnerability. Love, for oneself and others, I have come to believe, cannot exist without belonging and being authentic. Interestingly, belonging cannot exist without practicing

Children possess a pure innocence that makes loving them automatic. They love and affirm your belonging without words. Isn't it fascinating that we all began from this point, yet over time, love and belonging became complex? A crucial aspect of parenting is removing 'if' and 'when' conditions on love. These create conditional acceptance, fostering a sense of unworthiness. A child feeling they must earn love will carry this message into adulthood unless it's addressed.

My experiences embracing courage, compassion, and connection with my children have involved joyous activities like play, singing, and dancing, alongside difficult ones like sincere apologies. “Sorry about that” doesn’t cut it compared to “I am sorry I shouted.” (I’ve picked up some tips about apologies from Harriet Lerner, but that’s another story.) My goal is to demonstrate to my kids early on that I’m not invincible and that respect for oneself and others is paramount.

This book casts a light on life and the diverse emotional experiences we all share as humans. I've revisited it multiple times, uncovering new insights with each read. It delves into themes of love, joy, gratitude, shame, pain, fear, empathy, vulnerability, and more. If there’s an emotion you've grappled with, you’ll likely find resonance in its pages. It's truly a treasure! I discovered this gem after becoming a parent, and it’s parenting that's driven me into a new realm of

Reflecting later that day, I was reminded of my previous post on presence. Children explore the world with fresh eyes, noticing things we adults often overlook. Oz had inadvertently invited me into a moment of connection. Regrettably, I missed the opportunity until much later, when the chance to engage in a meaningful dialogue had passed. In hindsight, this could have been a gateway to discussions about art, craftsmanship, and history.

Have you ever reacted to your child in a certain way without much thought, only to have a similar situation recur weeks or months later, but with a more subdued and understanding response?

Written By A Lindah Last night, I found myself in a situation that many of us know all too well. I had crafted a short story to share with brand-new parents on Instagram, got sidetracked by mum duties, picked up my phone again, and in a flurry of closing apps, I accidentally deleted it. Feel free to share a hearty laugh with me! Undeterred, this morning, I decided to share the heart of my message: ‘Practice Single Tasking.’ As any new parent will tell you, waking up to a to-d