parenting – Page 4

coparenting, home, motherhood, parenting, Relatinships, Uncategorized, values

Five Things I Learned from My Parents

Posted on February 24, 2020March 31, 2020 by themommytherapist

Children learn more from watching than hearing. Let’s face it, you remember more about childhood from the lens of what you observed and experienced than what was told to you. As we finish our relationship series, I wanted to reflect on the relationship you have with your partner and how it reflects to you children. All children absorb beliefs through witnessing the relationship between their caregivers, especially if it is seen daily through a domestic situation.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have parents that were not only together, but also very much in love. They still are and much of ingrained relational expectations are a result of all I experienced. Here are five things I learned about relationships though observing my parents.

VALUING TIME IS IMPORTANT

Date nights when you have small children is not always feasible due to time or finances. Some of my favorite memories surround getting to move the “small TV” to the back bedrooms, eat pizza and spend time with my siblings. In my mind, that was a treat and it is only now that I recognize its significance. I knew that it was so my parents could have date night, but I can now reflect on the intentionality of their decision.

As a parent I see that set expectation and understand how hard it must have been to follow through. It takes planning and dedication to making spouse time a priority when life with kids is exhausting. They would eat dinner and talk. In some ways, there was a security in knowing they spent time together. That they liked to spend time together.

ENCOURAGE YOUR SPOUSE

I do not ever remember hearing something negative said about my parents by one another. They did not bad mouth each other and did not tolerate anyone speaking ill of the other. Even when they did not agree, only body language would be the indicator and the occasional frustrated tone.

The biggest point of this experience was knowing they cared about one another and respected one another. They would praise each other to us kids and could be heard recognizing something positive the other one did. They were a team and it was obvious.

BE INTERESTED IN THEIR LIFE

Dinner time was spent together and my parents talked to each other as well as to the kids. It did not revolve around only kid conversation. They discussed their days. Many of the acronyms used due to my dad’s engineering job went over my head and probably my Mother’s. However, she would be attentive and ask questions. Genuinely interested in his day.

In the same way, my dad would ask about her day. All of my growing up years, my mother stayed home with four kids. It can be easy to overlook a stay at home mother’s day. However, he was interested in what she did, what she was learning in bible study, her thoughts on many things. He showed that he valued who she was and cared about her life.

RESOLVE YOUR ARGUMENTS

My parents seldom fought in front of us. We knew they fought, as stated before, due to observed coolness, but the “knock down, drag outs” were usually reserved for after bedtime (I think). However, their resolutions were obvious. We heard the apologies and saw the embraces.

This showed me that adults address their disagreements and repair a relationship disrupted by a disagreement. There was never any discomfort from hours of tension or days of frigidity between them. It was apparent that they worked hard to end fights swiftly and calmly, in a method that would strengthen their relationship.

THE RELATIONSHIP COMES FIRST

My parents made it clear that they loved their kids, but their relationship was the priority. It was evident in aligning with one another when we tried to manipulate as children do. They were always on the same page. They even made a point to always sit next to one another, no matter where we went. This was true at dinner, a movie, etc. We knew that they valued one another above anyone else.

The reality of their relationship was a stable force in my childhood. How they treated one another was important in ways I may not realize. As a kid, the world is big and unpredictable. However, due to how my parents handled their marriage, home was a safe place. How they treated one another influenced not only my growing up years, but also how I know to treat my partner. This ripple effect will hopefully shape my children, in the same way I have been molded.

Learning by observing,

Allyson

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be a replacement for counseling or medical services. The information on this site is intended for general and educational purposes only. Before taking action based on the information you find in this blog, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. The use or reliance on any information found on this site is solely at your own risk. You are welcome to contact us in response to this post. We will not provide online counseling services via our contact form. We encourage you to seek counseling services of your own if you are looking for more support, help, and advice. If you are in crisis or have a mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

counseling, motherhood, parenting, relationships

Balancing Act

Posted on February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 by themommytherapist

Love requires a delicate balance between thinking and doing.

Whenever I think about love and relationships, I almost always think about a quote by Timothy Keller about love:

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything.”

Known AND loved.

We not only need to feel both fully known and fully loved to truly feel loved, but we also need to strive to both know and love the people that we are in relationship with for them to truly feel loved by us. It is an equation that involves the careful balance of thinking (knowing) and doing (loving). Relationships cannot thrive with just one or the other, although we often lean more heavily on one than the other.

One of the best examples of the interplay between thinking and doing love is bringing home your new baby. At this point in the relationship, you know very little about who your baby is. At this stage, we have to rely heavily on the “doing” of the relationship. We make sure that our baby eats, sleeps, cuddles, and has a clean diaper, but a lot of the time we have to guess at first what it is our baby needs most. And that’s where the knowing steps in. We start to learn the difference between our babies cries and we use our knowing to adjust our doing, and we use our doing to add to our knowing.

I think, however, like with many things in life we tend to err more on one side or the other of loving someone else; we either tend to overthink the thinking or overdo the doing part of love. We might be Overthinkers in some relationships and Overdoers in others, but I think finding the balance is tricky regardless of the relationship.

Here are some tips for how to get a little closer to finding the balance:

OVERDOERS

You might be an Overdoer if you have ever worked hard on a gift, event, or surprise for someone you love and been met with a lackluster response. You know what I’m talking about – you hand your person a gift that you spent 5 hours making by hand and their response is a sweet, slightly forced, “Oh…thanks!” Oof. That “Oh” is always a signal for me that I spent so much effort on the Doing of giving a gift that I neglected the Knowing of finding out what they would enjoy getting the most.

Another way to gauge is to stop and think about a person that you love – it could be your spouse, your kid, your best friend, etc. Now try to think of what their perfect day would look like. What would they like to eat? Where would they like to go? Would they want to be alone or surrounded by people? If you have trouble thinking of what they enjoy most, it might be time to slow down and do a little more Knowing. Ask them questions about their day, their dreams, their family, friends, and likes/dislikes. You can even make it a game and see how far you can get into the conversation by only asking them questions about themselves.

The doing of loving is heavily romanticized in our culture and it can be seen in the elaborate Valentines/Birthday/Anniversary/Engagement/Wedding rituals we act out for other people. We all want a script to know how to love other people best, and we eat up books, blogs, and advice on “How to…..” love the people in our lives. But the most beautiful thing about your love and the person you love is how unique it is. So take some time to slow down and do some learning. Your love will only grow from it.

OVERTHINKERS

Have you ever felt paralysis by analysis? Then you, my friend, may be an Overthinker. I see this one most in my own life as a parent. I watch my kids – what they enjoy doing, who they like to play with, their patterns, etc. – and I file it away in a folder in my brain called “Possibly Important Data.” The watching, learning, and observing helps me to feel equipped as a parent – I feel like I know if soccer will be a better investment for my kids than gymnastics and how to avoid situations that overstimulate or create anxiety for them. But I too often forget to stop watching just jump in and “do” life with my kids. Sometimes I forget that I can let go of expectations and let my kids surprise me.

I think the hardest part of identifying if you are an Overthinker is the fact that oftentimes we confuse thinking about something for actually doing something. Again, stop and think about a particular person that you love and then try to think of the last time you did something just for them because you knew they would like it. When is the last time you intentionally showed them love in the ways that they receive love best?

You can know everything there is to know about a person you love – their likes, dislikes, favorite coffee/food/show/friends – but if you never do anything with that information then it does not serve your relationship. The people that we love want to see the fact that you know them put into action. And sometimes, they just want you to see the person they are in that moment, without the burden of the expectations that your Knowing may create.

Balancing knowing and loving is hard. Thinking and doing come more naturally in some instances than others, but both are essential to really love another person well.

Listen. Do. and never stop trying.

Practicing the balancing act with you,

Selena

comfortzone, coparenting, home, motherhood, parenting, Relatinships, Uncategorized, values

What’s Love Got to Do With it?

Posted on February 10, 2020March 22, 2020 by themommytherapist

As we approach Valentine’s Day, we are constantly inundated with everything “love” related. This world is so crazy you can get the one you love’s face on anything from socks to cakes. Why someone wants to eat their face off of food is beyond me. However, the main idea is that February 14th is a day that has become dedicated to love.

It is usually centered around romanic love, but growing up my Mom made this day about any type of love. We would enter the kitchen and our places on the table would be decorated with Valentine’s gifts. When I was without a significant other in college, my Mom still supplied me with something on that day. It made it more a reminder to appreciate those you love, than “single awareness day”.

As you consider this upcoming “holiday” recognize ways you can make it a treasured memory for more than just your spouse or current partner. Here are a few options along the lines of the “Five Love Languages” referenced in my post Your Child’s Safe Place.

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

“I am so proud of you.” Those words can be a giant motivator for anyone. Especially if they are followed with reasons. It can be helpful and healing to tell someone you love, how they are killing it at work, school, life, parenting, etc. Write them a note, leave them a voicemail, or buy them a card. This can be for a specific child or a close friend. Something that marks this day that gives a pass for the mushy and cheesy.

Some people hear words and it fills up their love tank in a way that nothing else can for them. It can seem too “easy” or “empty” for those that are not impacted by words. However, for a person that is constantly being complimentary to you or encouraging you, reciprocating that affection can mean so much.

ACTS OF SERVICE

My dad likes to complain about this type being “a husband’s worst nightmare” as it is my mother’s love language. This is a typer that can have someone labeled as “high maintenance.” In actuality, it needs no more or less intentionality than the others.

This can involve making your child’s favorite breakfast to start the day or grabbing your co-worker their coffee order without them asking. A way to know that this is their way to receive love can be if they do things for you without being asked, things that make your life easier. This does require observing and understanding the small actions you can take to show your appreciation.

RECEIVING GIFTS

Our society has made this sharing of love more common. When it is someone’s birthday, anniversary, Christmas, etc. it is expected that you give them a gift. Some people are grateful for the present, but it does not mean as much as another way of communicating love. However, for others, this matters.

When the gift is thoughtful and shows that time was spent on its choice, it can speak loudly of love. This person may often bring you something because it made them “think of you” or they knew you were looking for it.

QUALITY TIME

This type of love language can be the easiest and most difficult at the same time. In the age of constant phone obsession, putting it down to focus on another person might be more challenging than we care to admit. However, when we give someone our undivided attention or give an activity with that person complete focus, it shows love.

Often, these people may comment on phone usage passive aggressively or are often seeking something to do together. Working on a project, even watching a movie with no distractions can help them know that matter to you. Our children are sometimes the most demanding of quality time. It can be frustrating to stop washing dishes, eating lunch in silence or reading a book to play with a doll for the millionth time. However, it is communicating that they are worth your attention.

PHYSICAL TOUCH

Caring for someone with a hug or a reassuring hand squeeze may be second nature. In some cultures physical affection is common. However, it can be uncomfortable in some situations. Making the choice to give some type of compassionate touch may communicate more than all the other ways of showing love to some individuals.

Depending on your upbringing, holding your children or giving them a squeeze goodbye may be different. However, the kids that put their arm around you or look for the hug hello, may benefit from more contact. Friends may even need more of a shoulder for comfort than an affectionate word.

We all receive love in various ways. No method is better than others and we often have more than one way that speaks to our hearts. Observe those in your life and attempt to communicate love to them in the manner they “hear” it best. Use this over-commercialized “holiday” to remind loved ones that they matter to you- using their own language.

Loving,

Allyson

These five types are identified and discovered by Dr. Gary Chapman. You can find more information on this website: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/.

counseling, motherhood, parenting, Relatinships, Uncategorized, values

Recipe for Relationships

Posted on February 3, 2020February 24, 2020 by themommytherapist

It’s February, the month that typically causes us to reflect on relationships, namely romantic relationships due to Valentine’s Day. This holiday provides an array of feelings for many of us, so we have decided to focus on relationships this month. The aim of this post is to give a few tips for meaningful romantic and unromantic relationships

Trust and respect were two topics highlighted in our co-parenting series. In order for co-parenting to work, both parties must trust and respect one another. This is true in any relationship, we want to trust our partner and their decisions and provide respect just like we want trust and respect in return.

With friendships and family relationships it’s difficult to have a healthy relationship if trust and respect are not reciprocal. When either of these is lacking we see undermining, questioning intentions, and putting others down publicly or privately. Of course there will be people in our lives we do not exactly trust or respect. For the people in our inner circle though, trust and respect are crucial. Examine your marriage, your closest friendships, and the family members you consider “your people,” how are you doing trusting and respecting them?

Trust and respect lead into expecting the best about the other person’s motives. When a friend does not return a phone call, we can expect that maybe they have a lot going on rather than assuming they are avoiding the call. When a spouse drops the ball on something at home, remembering what a tough week they have had at work helps assume the best. Assuming the worst leads us to believe negative things about others and ourselves.

So why outline the concepts of trust, respect, and expecting the best in a parenting blog? The reason is because we want to model healthy relationships to our children. We do not want them to witness interpersonal conflict of ours as their norm or friendships filled with gossip and drama. Demonstrating trust, respect, and expecting the best sets the stage for healthy relationships for them as well.

Finally, if we are looking at this through a Christian lens, there is a key verse to remember. Ephesians 4:32 states, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you.” Think about how you can transform your relationships and transform your attitude if you apply this verse to your relationships.

Kindly,

Andrea

body image, counseling, goals, motherhood, parenting, values

Letting Go

Posted on January 27, 2020January 26, 2020 by themommytherapist

There’s no question that goals can be incredibly useful tools in life. They help us turn our dreams into reality and they help us stay focused on growth. They help us to live out our passions and to create change in our lives.

But what do we do when we need to give up on a goal? When a goal isn’t helpful any longer?

I don’t know about you, but I see a lot of narratives in media, in advertising, on social media, etc. that encourage us to run hard after our goals. No. Matter. What. Oftentimes, these narratives are meant to be encouraging and showcase a celebration of hard-won discipline. A common one that I see often on my feed is the “I didn’t want to wake up this morning, but I have goals and I’m not a quitter, so I woke up and worked out!” I love celebrating those victories with my friends and family, but these narrative also seem to imply that giving up is never an option.

It’s true that the goals that you work the hardest towards are often the ones that feel the best to achieve. It’s also true that many of us fight against the temptations of laziness and apathy, so the constant barrage of encouragement and “you go girl”s that you can find online can be genuinely encouraging in our efforts to achieve our goals. But we also need to see and learn what it looks like to gracefully release ourselves from the pursuit of a goal. We need narratives of what it can look like to give up in a good way.

While we can all do many of the things we set our minds on and work hard towards, there are some times when we shouldn’t keep pushing towards our goals. There are a lot fewer examples of people celebrating quitting their pursuit of a goal, but it doesn’t mean that it is any less of a valid choice.

If you are struggling to reach or even to pursue a goal, then it may be a sign that it’s time for you to give up on a goal. Here are just a few reasons why it can be okay to give up:

It’s Not Healthy for You

Oftentimes the goals that we set for ourselves lead us down paths that we have never walked before, which means that pursuing our goals looks a lot like walking into the unknown. It is really hard to completely predict how we will respond to the new spaces we create in our lives. This means that we might not like what we find on our pursuit of a goal.

You might be pursuing a goal of healthier eating, but find that counting calories has worsened your relationship with food to the point that you are beginning to develop disordered eating.

You may have a goal to get a promotion at work but find that time and effort required to achieve that goal would mean that you would have to sacrifice the time you spend with family or friends or doing something else that you value more.

Or maybe you are crushing your goals, but you are exhausted and run down, or maybe you are starting to struggle with your pride as a result.

It doesn’t matter if the hurt you cause by the pursuit of your goal is physical, spiritual, mental, relational, or social; if it’s not healthy for you right now, it’s okay to stop.

It’s Not Healthy for Someone Else

We normally think of our goals as individual, solitary pursuits, but our actions always have an impact on the people and the world around us. If your pursuit of your goal damages your relationship with other people in your life, then you may want to consider giving up on your goal, or at least pursuing it in a different manner.

About a year ago I set a fitness goal that required me to go running several days a week. I would try to take my kids with me in a jogging stroller and then I would get grumpy when they spent the entire run throwing things out of the stroller or crying. Or both. They woke up so early that I couldn’t get my runs in before they woke up, but when I took them with me, we would all return home in a sour mood. I had also failed at that point to master the art of showering with a 2-year-old and 1-year-old, so then I also either felt stinky all day or had to take the risk of being in a different room than two grumpy, destructive toddlers.

It was a good fitness goal. It felt good to move my body that way. It felt good to feel myself get stronger. But it felt terrible to see how it was affecting my relationship with my kids. At some point, it started to feel like my goal was more important than the way I was treating my children. As soon as I gave myself permission to modify my goals and started working out in different ways, my interactions with my children changed dramatically and their behavior improved. It was clear that my goal of running, while good for me, was not the best thing for my children.

Your Dreams Have Changed

Sometimes our dreams change. Life is constantly happening all around us and things are always changing. Our goals are allowed to change too. You aren’t letting yourself or anyone else down if you release a dream that isn’t pointing you in the direction you want to go any longer. You are always allowed to change, so don’t let a goal from a different season in your life be the thing that holds you back.

You are NOT a failure if you have to put a goal on the shelf for a while or even trash it completely. You are more than the sum of your achievements and your value does not change whether or not you finished what you started.

Work hard towards the change and growth that you are able to, and do your best to have compassion towards yourself when you have to give up.

You can always start a new goal and chase a new dream tomorrow.

Growing and dreaming with you,

Selena

counseling, goals, motherhood, parenting, values

Value-Driven Goals

Posted on January 20, 2020January 18, 2020 by themommytherapist

When I (Selena) went to work as a camp counselor after my freshman year of college at an outdoor adventure camp, we were expected to lead our campers through various activities, including rock climbing, rappelling, zip-lining, and mountain biking.

Spoiler alert: I had never done any of those things before.

Within the first 24 hours I was on-site at the camp, one of the directors took us to a steep hill made of dirt and loose rock and proudly announced that this was our mountain scooter course. For reference, this is a mountain scooter:

Think BMX bike, but in scooter form.

Before this summer, I had not ridden anything with two wheels since I was at least 12 and definitely never on anything besides pavement. So after I watched a few people ride down before me with seeming ease and thrill, I volunteered to go next before I let the peer pressure I was feeling psych me out. I remember thinking something along the lines of, “If I’m confident, how bad can this be?”

Turns out, it could be pretty bad. Twenty minutes later I was standing in a shower while my female director and camp nurse were cleaning rocks out of the giant swath of road rash on my legs and rump. Later that day when I went to meet some counselors from another part of camp for the first time, I was so bandaged that one guy shouted out at me, “Whoa! Did you get shot?!” We were not a “camp name” or “nickname” kind of camp, but I quickly became known as “Boo,” short for ‘boo-boos’ to my co-workers.

About a week later in our training we were all gathered to practice riding the mountain bike trail we were expected to take our campers on. I was terrified. I couldn’t even coast down a hill on a scooter, so how in the world was I going to be able to make it through this trail? It was through dense, wooded, and rocky terrain and I was certain that I would never be able to avoid wrecking and seriously getting hurt.

I was already scoping out the rocks and trees and ditches that I wanted to avoid when the experienced mountain biker who was leading our training told us something along these lines:

“Make sure to look where you are going. If you look at a rock, you are going to hit that rock. If you pay too much attention to the tree you are trying to avoid, you will run right into it. Your bike will go wherever you are looking, so focus on where you want the bike to go, not on where you don’t want it to go.”

And you know what? She was right. Whenever I pedaled confidently and set my focus on the path I wanted to take, I made it through alright.

As we continue to write about goals this month, I want you take some time and think about your goals, your word for the year, your intention, or whatever thing you are pursuing in this season.

Got it?

Now ask yourself why you are heading in that direction. Sit with that question. Because chances are that your core motivation for that goal is either to cultivate a value in your life, or to avoid becoming something/someone you are afraid of becoming.

On the surface, that distinction may not sound like much, but I would argue that it makes all of the difference. It means the difference between staring at the rocks and trees you are trying to avoid and actually focusing on the trail you want to give meaning to your life. Whenever our motivations for something are based around a fear (fear of ‘letting yourself go,’ fear of falling behind, fear of becoming like someone you know, etc), then our attention is more focused on what we do not want to be than on who we want to become. It’s really hard to find a target when you don’t know where it is, just some of the places where it is not. Whenever you are running towards something just because you are running away from something else, you are more likely to get discouraged and even take a meandering course. It would be exhausting to go on a bike ride where your only goal was to not hit trees. It might be engaging for a while, but eventually you would just be riding around aimlessly and without a sense of purpose. It’s hard to stay motivated whenever you aren’t driven by purpose.

As the beginning of the year begins to melt into the rest of the year, I want to invite you to reexamine your goals and your values. Do your goals match the things that you say you value in your life? Are you heading in a direction with purpose, or are you only focused on the things you want to avoid? If you get stuck, make a list of your top 3 values and think of both big and little ways that you can shape your life to better reflect that value.

My husband loves mountain biking and he will say that it’s 10 times easier to successfully ride a trail whenever you fully commit to what you are doing rather than being held back by fear or uncertainty. Value-driven goals allow you move forward with purpose and with clarity, while the ones created out of fear will always wear us down. Find a trail that takes you closer to fully living out your values and ride it hard; you’ll end up in the direction you end up looking towards.

Staying focused together,

Selena

counseling, goals, home, motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Creating Kid-sized Goals

Posted on January 13, 2020January 18, 2020 by themommytherapist

As we begin the new year and evaluate the goals we have for ourselves, often we have goals for our families as well. This could be an expectation that this year your partner will put their dirty clothes INSIDE the laundry basket going forward or that your kids will learn what it means to land urine INSIDE the toilet for a change.

The problem with these hopes can be their dependence on others to change their own behavior. However, as a parent, we are able to target ways we want to influence our children during the upcoming year. Often, it can be daunting to decide what expecatations we can set for our children due to variety in development. Here are a few ideas to consider as well as ways to determine age appropriate, reasonable goals for our children.

START SMALL

It can be tempting to create a large, general target such as, “clean their room.” However, this can be too broad and the lack of meeting this expectation may create more frustration. A better choice may be one small step. Beginning for a three year old may be, “put their bowl/ plate in the sink after every meal.”

This is something the child can physically complete and the expectation can be easily repeated. Once something small is achieved and the child has proved proficient, it is ok to increase the responsibility.

BREAK DOWN GOALS

Not only do you need to start small, keep even bigger expectations in small increments. Rather than instruct them to “clean your room.” Allow them to do one thing at a time. This may be first putting their clothes in the laundry basket, once that is completed, put all their stuffed animals in their place, make their bed, etc. This way they do not get overwhelmed.

STATE EXPECTATIONS FREQUENTLY

Children forget. Heck, I forget to move my clothes from the washing machine to the dryer almost daily. Stating a goal for a child often, calmly and in a concise manner helps train their brain. You have heard the phrase, “repetition, repetition, repetition.” It is accurate. Our kids do not always avoid doing tasks we ask of them on purpose. Assuming the best, can help curb some frustration that comes from being ignored.

WORK ALONGSIDE

It is more encouraging to do chores or other tasks alongside others. When children see our behavior as a model for our expectations of their behavior, it can be more effective. This can begin as helping them complete their task initially, as they gain the confidence to do each goal. Eventually, it can end in merely working alongside in a task we have set for ourselves or similar to their endeavor.

For children being expected to have “reading time”, read your own book next to them. If it is cleaning their room, clean your own. If it is sitting calmly in time out, breath calming breaths alongside them. As the saying goes, positive behavior is “better caught then taught.”

Setting expectations and goals for children can be difficult. We know we need to teach them responsibility, for their maturity, but can be unsure where to start. It is ok to start small. Any step in giving them tasks to work or behavior to adhere to, is helpful for their development.

Remember that this is not easy. Teaching is a noble calling and parenting is as well. As we parent we teach our children how to tackle the expectations of others. We never do this perfectly, but have grace with yourselves and your kids as well.

Teaching alongside,

Allyson

emotion regulation, home, parenting

Holiday Detox to Rhythms in Routine

Posted on January 6, 2020 by themommytherapist

The holiday season has come to a close! I’m not sure about you, but I need a holiday from the holidays. Holidays can be exhausting for parents and kids alike. As we are a few days into the New Year, I am working to wrap up the Christmas season with my family in a meaningful way and dive into 2020 with renewed perspective and purpose.

Reflect with Gratitude

I hope that your holiday was wonderful, yet I know for some of you it was not what you wanted or hoped. Holidays are difficult are for many. If you can reflect, is there any aspect that you are thankful for, even if it is small? Gratitude improves our mood and lifts our spirits. It can give us momentum to turn the page into a new decade and shift our view for the better. We often make the holidays all about us, let’s be honest – all about our children, forgetting the meaning of the season. Let’s work to bask in thankfulness over the true, undeserved Gift given to us on Christmas and blessings we have.

Reinstate Routine

We have been out of almost every routine and it is affecting the adults and children in my home. Too much sugar, screen time, free time, getting exactly what they want, lax bedtime, and the list goes on of normal rules and boundaries that have bent over the past few weeks. Gliding into a routine again is a change, so if you are receiving some resistance as you reinstate your rules and routines, that is normal. Remember, you are the parent and what you say goes. Getting into these routines again will help everyone return to normalcy and some predictability.

Seek Counseling

If this holiday season was particularly challenging for you, or if adding gratitude and routines are not sufficient, I encourage you to seek professional counseling to help process and navigate hurt and emotions. My hope is that healing and belonging can take place for you in the counseling setting.

Goal Setting

I am not exactly referring to New Year’s resolutions but how to implement a change, improve, or start new. A great tradition that many people have at the beginning of the year is choosing a word for the year to define a theme. Examples include: peace, steadfast, patient, inviting, genuine… I would encourage you to think of a word or a goal that may improve your mental health this year. What is practical or doable to help you as individual and in turn will help you be a better parent? A tip for goal setting is the acronym SMART:

Sensible

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timely

Let’s take the theme of being patient this year. Rather than stating, I want to be more patient with my kids, consider the following. I am going to implement patience tomorrow morning during the before school routine. This means, I will get up early to get myself ready for work before the kids are up. I will pack lunches and school bags the night before. I will treat my children with kindness instead of sharpness and grace instead of critique. If we look at this plan, see how it meets the criteria of SMART and is much more doable than being patient in general? Using this format, it is easier to make a goal a habit.

You were chosen to do this job of raising your kids. You are qualified when you don’t feel like it. Speak kindly to yourself. Rely on His strength instead of your own.

Growing with you,

Andrea

boundaries, counseling, emotion regulation, home, motherhood, parenting, trauma, Uncategorized, values

Boundaries Have No Age Requirement

Posted on December 16, 2019January 17, 2020 by themommytherapist

Our children deserve to have a voice in some boundaries. This does not include no vegetables or whether they are able to handle many hours of screen time. However, they are individuals with thoughts and feelings. It is important to consider the boundaries they need to establish for themselves. Here are a few.

WHO THEY TOUCH AND HOW THEY TOUCH

It can be complicated to allow children power over these boundaries, especially in the south. Everyone hugs and the older generation expects kisses. To allow a child to forgo this tradition may cause some raised eyebrows. It can be seen as rude or impolite to refuse to give their Great Aunt, that they have met once, a long hug. Consider our expectations of our children. We expect them to have control over their fidgeting, rolling of the eyes and tone of their voice, but often do not allow them to have control over situations their bodies are placed in.

This does not need to be a prolonged conversation or one that leaves them vulnerable to criticism. As their parents, we can set the expectation that they will have a say. Our family gives the suggestion of a “hug or a high-five” with every person in our children’s lives. Therefore, they know they have a choice and are able to respond to our instructions to give one or the other. The other person hears our promoting and knows we do not insist our children give hugs, no matter the relation.

HOW LONG THEY ENGAGE IN AN ACTIVITY

Our children tell us more with their behavior, than with their mouths. No matter the age, we can tell when they are reaching their “meltdown danger zone”. The words get whinier and the legs are more susceptible to collapsing out from under them in dramatic retaliation. These signs tell us our children are done. Without words, they are asking to be given less stimulating time to collect themselves.

They let us know when it is time to leave the playdate, time to go home from the party, time to exit Chick-fil-a in a football hold flight to the car. It can be inconvenient at times, but parenting is about sacrifice. Their little brains and bodies can stay engaged or active only so long until they need a break or change of scenery.

HOW THEY FEEL

It can be very tempting to try and control the emotions expressed by our children. We do not think it is valid to be angry that we would not allow them to lay on the floor next to the toilet. We do not think it is valid that they are devastated that we will not allow them to eat the dog’s food. We may not think is is valid that our teen thinks their life is ending because they cannot see their boyfriend/ girlfriend for one day. Children do not always make sense. Teens do not always make sense.

But feelings are never wrong. Let me restate that: feelings are never wrong. They can be expressed in disobedient, disrespectful or harmful ways. However, they are not wrong. They may have an intensity that we do not believe matches the situation, but they are not wrong. People are allowed to feel how they feel and have someone see, hear and acknowledge their feelings. When we do this, we are teaching them that they have value and they are allowed to feel, how they feel.

Boundaries are tricky. When we allow people to adhere to their own boundaries, we reinforce our belief in their validity as individuals. Kids do not always want what is best for themselves or know what some boundaries need to be, that is where parenting comes in. Our children know themselves and have their own experiences. The parents responsibility is to teach them how to mature into healthy, engaged members of society. This requires us to treat them as such in an age appropriate manner. Children are allowed to have boundaries. It is important that adults listen to children and respect their boundaries.

Learning together,

Allyson

boundaries, counseling, emotion regulation, home, motherhood, parenting

Protecting Your Mental Energy

Posted on December 9, 2019January 17, 2020 by themommytherapist

We have been writing about boundaries this holiday season with our time, activities, and people. The closer to Christmas is gets, it is becoming obvious we need to set boundaries on how much we are thinking about the season to dos and holiday itself. Outside of the Christmas season our thoughts may jump from chores to work to raising kids to marriage to calling that friend to figuring out dinner. During this season interject thinking about buying, wrapping, Christmas cards, gingerbread houses, holiday treats, Polar Express train, seeing Santa, school program, and the list goes on and on. No wonder parents are tired!

By the end of this season, I do not want my children thinking I have acted like the Grinch due to the holiday to do list they know nothing about. I want them to remember a joyful and peaceful mother exuding those qualities we talk about this time of year. I hope they learn more about the true meaning of this season than feeling rushed around doing all of the holiday stuff. So let’s take a few practical steps to protecting our mental energy this season so we can be the parents we want to be.

Write It Down

We cannot control the popcorn thoughts that come into our mind during the day. We can keep a list going of what we would like to do so we do not forget. When something comes to mind like, “ Oh yeah, I need to get a gift for my child’s teacher,” jot it down and shelf it for later. When you have a minute to yourself (which can be few and far between) spend some time planning and wrapping your brain around it.

One Thing at a Time

We are tempted to multitask when we have many things going on at one time. It usually does not make things go faster. Let yourself focus on one task at a time, work on being present with that task rather than letting your mind race over everything you need or want to do. You will enjoy it more if you are in it. Reframe the word “task” and change it to “experience.” Experience the advent calendar or cookie decorating rather than getting through it.

Make it Pleasant

Whatever the task, experience, or event, how can you make it more meaningful or fun? Light candles, listen to music, put a movie on or call a friend to chat while you wrap, address cards, or cook. Which member(s) of your family can you involve to make a memory instead of just completing a task. Practicing gratitude during this season is always a good idea and proven mood booster. Remember to look at Christmas time through the eyes of your children, they notice the things we take for granted.

Experience this season rather than trying to escape it. Write down your to dos and look at your list when you are ready. Take one thing at a time and do your best to enjoy it.

Christmas Blessings,

Andrea