Soothe Distress

I’m married to a sales manager whose job comes with long hours and frequent out-of-state travel. When he’s on the road, he leaves before the sun is up and comes home days later, long after the kids are asleep. During the busiest part of the year, even when he’s not traveling, he’s gone before we wake up and home after bedtime.

There are moments when I think, Is this what single parenting feels like? But I know it’s not. I  don’t carry all the weight a single parent does.

From dance camp to cooking class to swim team, drop-off activities can be such a fun experience for my kids. The drop-off part, though? That’s where things can get tricky.

What helps your child through the drop-off at a new activity?

Before I became a mom, I used to hear parents talk about the “terrible twos,” and honestly, I had no idea what they were talking about.

Now that my baby is almost 2, I get it. There are moments when her tantrums completely overwhelm me. There are times when I honestly don’t know what to do.

Mindfulness is a way of being present in our lives that can help us develop greater balance, empathy, and clarity.

Listen in on this timeless classic of a podcast -- an encouraging conversation with Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and Myla Kabat-Zinn about bringing greater mindfulness to both the joys and trials of parenting.

My gut reaction is often to feel annoyed when my son says "I can't," and I have to remember to take a moment before responding. I take a couple extra breaths and remind myself that what my son is feeling is normal. Adults do the same thing! When a woman is in labor, it's common to hear her say, "I can't do this anymore!" and for her support person to respond, "but you're already doing it!"

We all feel like we can't sometimes. Is it more helpful to hear someone respond exasperatedly or with an offer to help?

When I was pregnant with my second child, I wondered as I think most second-time parents do about how my firstborn would react to having a sibling.

Where in your day do you squeeze in play time with your child?

The myth of perfect parenting is so pervasive that even Martha Sears, coauthor of more than 25 parenting books, was tempted to believe it!

Join in on listening into this touching and intimate discussion with Martha about the challenges of motherhood and how she learned to embrace the imperfections of real-life parenting.

Although at times we feel alienated when caring for a young child, we do not parent in a vacuum. 

Who supports you in your parenting goals?

Each of my children were carefully and lovingly planned, but the moment that pregnancy test turned out positive, the excitement was immediately mixed with worry and doubt: I was doing the right thing for my family, right? 

I have a new baby in my family. He is now 17 months old. My last baby was born 10 years earlier. The baby before this baby was born two years prior to my second. My older children are ages 11 and 13.

How do you follow your child's lead in your parenting?