Category: Parenting
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Stress bursting into pain within the body
We ended the year looking for an answer to Conrad’s intense stomach pains. As I shared with him my stress load, as we put it into words, and I took steps towards self care, his stomach pangs eased. Maybe it was the medicine, maybe it was the naming of the stress factors. The reality is…
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The Power of our thoughts
There is a famous Bible story, about a man named Peter who briefly walked on water.On a stormy night, the disciples were sailing across the sea. At dawn, among the waves, they saw Jesus walking across the water toward them. Despite their justifiable fear, Peter, one of his disciples, asked Jesus to call him out…
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First hospital admission
Jackie was having a hard time breathing. We stayed at home these days. She didn’t do any extraneous activities. The air has been particularly bad this winter. Overly warm. No rain. No wind. The smog lingered. Gave Conrad a hard time with his allergies. So he stayed home more. I ran errands. Jackie finished school…
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Insight in the new year
I figured out something. Two things actually. I didn’t listen to my body, to my limits, and tried to do multiple things at the same time. Now my body doesn’t listen to me, and sends me warning signals even for no reason. We need to regain this mutual trust between my will and my strength. It’s…
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First brunch with friends like family
Feeling at home with introverts Socializing is like an out of body experience. As of late. Even if I meet people, and I’m polite and engaging, I reached a new level of numbness. First joy disappears. I’m not sure if not feeling fully present / awake/ engaged is a step towards healing or a sign…
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Jackie’s insight
We are planning a two weeks trip without the kids this summer. A trekking across the Austrian alps, from hut to hut. With other adults. The girls will go to piatra with my parents, and they are mostly excited about this adventure. We are too. But the other night Jackie cried herself to sleep, that…
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Burnout
I have prioritized other with the best intentions but for the first time I felt the consequences of focusing outwardly. I met great people, I served in fantastic causes but my inner circle was neglected, as well as my well-being. I had hoped the giving will slow down but people will take as much as…
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DRAFT – legacy the power of our thoughts
Our thoughts about motherhood affect our ability to live out our responsibilities well. I had years to prepare for motherhood, starting from youthful indifference, as life was too busy and fulfilling without kids, to yearning for it. Wrestling with this longing to care for a child and share of the abundance of love, knowledge and…
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Christmas 2022 school events
“will you stay to see me dance?” asks ivy as we are doing a craft, a Christmas wreath with her class. The event lasted two hours instead of one. I had to run midway to take Jackie to music school for her clarinet exam. then drive back to catch the Santa gifts giving and caroling.…
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Journey to self care
I was frustrated, anxious, irritated that people had increasing expectations of me. In reality though, I thought I was frustrated that they don’t see beyond their urgent need, or desire. But I was more upset with me for not speaking up kindly and clearly. I wanted someone to defend my time, to preserve my energy.…
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Conversation before bedtime
The girls pray for sweet dreams and thank god for the good day they had. I pray with gratitude, about healing, about their past, about their future, and I always thank god for the privilege of being their mom. I speak words of faith and joy and blessings over them. They flow out of me…
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Delight
I’m an empath. Overly aware of people emotions, even when they try to come across as nice, if deep down they don’t enjoy my company, I feel it. For this reason, the summer I spent with mama Gloria, as a daughter, I was treated with such delight, generosity of heart, and the elegant simple room…