My daughters are growing up in a home with altars. They watch me meditating, journaling, and doing other practices near little tables with intentional groups of objects. They know I’m calmer after I practice. They ask me questions about what I’m doing and have started to experiment with their own spaces.
Read More“I'm grateful for the cow who gave us our milk and the worker who picked these strawberries and the person who packed this glass in a box to send it to the store and Daddy for cooking … “ When our older daughter was a toddler, we started the practice of naming and appreciating ingredients in our meal. We wanted to teach her where her food came from and help her recognize how much abundance we have. Now that she is seven and has a personal passion for details, her list can be quite long. “And I’m grateful for the person who created the fabric for our napkins and the lettuce plant for growing our salad … “
Read MoreYesterday, I took my daughter to an event at her elementary school where we could drop off supplies and spend time with other families. In two days, she will start second grade and my family will transition from the rhythm of summer camp and travel back to 5:30 am alarms and remembering that it’s Wear Clothes From Your Favorite Sports Team Day, 5 minutes before we leave the house.
I love these kinds of occasions. The first day of school. New Years. Birthdays. Anniversaries. These moments remind me to pause and reflect on what has changed over the course of a year. What traditions do I want to maintain? How have the four of us grown? How can we make our routine easier?
Read More“Are you ready to go to the slide?” I ask.
“No! More pushes!” My 2-year-old daughter is in a swing phase. And by swing phase, I mean she wants to do that activity with a single-minded focus that outlasts my interest by 15 minutes. It’s beautiful that she’s learning and enjoying herself and smiling adorably but oh-my-gosh-why-can’t-we-switch-to-something-else?! I’m crawling out of my skin with impatience, which is ironic because I’m helping both girls practice ways to be patient every day. Remembering this, I try to flip my internal script. I decide to ask the developing expert.
Read More
