Did anything inspire you this week? Any articles or posts that encouraged you in your parenting journey?
The internet can be a tricky place. If we’re not careful it can zap our time and focus.
But the opposite is also true. We can use the internet to encourage and better our lives. I try to read a few articles and quotes everyday and I find this really helps keep me learning and refreshed.
Here’s what I read this week:
“Trust in your own instinct, your own inner voice. If something feels Off: it is. If something feels On: it is. If something defies logic, yet feels so right that it seems blissful, go for it. We should always encourage our children to follow their hearts and we owe it to them to listen to their hearts as well in matters concerning them. Become a family of hearts, where each heart has a voice and a common goal to be listened to. For petty desires of all may clash, but hearts are made to intermingle with each other.” ~ Spiritually Aware Parenting
“You Both Want This Toy” ~ My usual goal in these preschool conflicts isn’t to solve the problem, but rather to encourage the children to engage in dialog. It seemed that they both knew what was going on, that at least as long as I was involved, might was not going to make right.
Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Teacher Tom‘s writing? There are certain voices on the internet that are just full of compassion, empathy, wisdom, peacefulness and kindness. Full of deep respect for childen. This writing goes straight to my soul. Teacher Tom is one of these voices and if you haven’t already go check out his blog.
At the very moment when you walk into the living room to find toys scattered all over the place or open the door to your child’s bedroom to see the floor covered with dirty clothes, you have the power to CHOOSE your thoughts and CHOOSE a peaceful, loving response.
You can choose to think: “UGH! What a mess!!! I can’t take this anymore!” and proceed to yell sharp orders at your children to clean up,
OR… You can choose to see the mess is an opportunity to feel gratitude and say to yourself: “What a BEAUTIFUL mess! I’m thankful for my family, our home, and the vibrancy of our life…” and then kindly and patiently ask your kids to clean up.
Choose to see the beauty in the “mess,” and your positive, heart-centered energy will set a warm, loving tone in your home for your family.” ~ Mindful Moms Network
The Importance of Touching Stuff ~ “The need to touch stuff is clearly important for young children. Yes, it has a lot to do with sound and texture and all that but the bottom line is it’s about the actual physical sensation of touching something and experiencing it through our body that makes it so powerful – it’s a link between us and it.” Shortly after reading this I had this same experience at the grocery store with my son and I knew just how to respond and why!
10 Best Books for Thinking Parents ~ I love a good book list!
my son pushed your child today: from one mom to another~ “Dear fellow mother, Today my two and a half year old son pushed your son, snatched a toy from his hands and shouted at him. Your son justifiably felt aggrieved and cried; you came and comforted your child. I wanted to connect with you, to talk to you about it, but it wasn’t the right place or time it seemed, and you didn’t make eye contact with me. I wanted to tell you so much. I wanted to say sorry. ” Ever been there?
Little Shoulders ~ “You can’t put a big head on little shoulders.” It’s a quick reminder, in Grandma’s style, that you can’t expect a small child to think as an adult. You can’t expect a child to act as an adult. Children are, after all, children.
Penis Pizza ~ The title says it all, doesn’t it?
Leslie at Purejoy Parenting shared this and said, “I love this because this is what I feel inside! Of course the awakening is inside me! If you resonate come and join the ride.”
From Real Child Development this week:
What Learning Looks Like ~ There’s lots of talk and debate about homeschooling, but what does it actually look like? What does it really mean to learn?
Follow Your Child’s Lead ~ Two simple rules, big impact.
The Morning Find ~ Found this right outside my front door.
When You Feel Like Giving Up ~ I can’t fix everything, but I can bring joy today. Today I can help a child smile. I can give him an opportunity he wouldn’t have otherwise. And sometimes, though it doesn’t feel like it, that has to be enough.
Are you a new follower at Real Child Development? I have pinterest boards of the best parenting articles on this site and all our creative fun. These are great places to get started exploring.
Are you looking for quotes? You can check out my “Quotes I Love” album on facebook and on pinterest.
Thanks so much for being here. Have a great weekend! Refresh, Renew and Enjoy!
Much love from Costa Rica,
Leslie
