Greetings!
Happy School Year! The school year has begun and routines are being re-established - there's an energy in this gearing up and preparing but also some stress. As you do this, take the time to think about what worked well last year and what didn't and begin to create some new ways of structuring your lifestyle to enable a smooth transition, keep the lines of communication open among family members and to ensure some built-in relaxation time in the fall. Don't minimize the importance of unstructured time: playing and creativity happen when there's "down"time!
Good luck!
Marie
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Living in a hectic, stressful area can wreck  havoc on your couple relationship. When couples feel that sense of DISCONNECTION, it indicates that their relationship is struggling. Sometimes doing little things can help: texting, e-mailing a love letter, calling during the day, having a ritual of a hug "hello" and "good-bye" can create connection. Other times, however, the disconnection is too great. If this happens, STOP AND TAKE STOCK of what you can do to re-establish a connection. Don't ignore the warning signs. Pay attention to yourself and your needs and make sure you let your partner know of your feelings. It's vitally important to the health of your relationship and for the sake of family life. YOUR RELATIONSHIP is the foundation for the family - keep it strong.An interesting articles about relationships worth reading by Dr. Sue Johnson: Hold Me Tight |
 As the school year begins anew and/or you're gearing up for long hours at work, again, be mindful of developing some goals for yourself to find time to devote to self-care and nurturing and just BEING - like a child does when he plays. It is so easy to get involved in the energy of children, school, and work and forget to STOP. Think of two goals you can work towards to find some contentment and quiet time for yourself - it could be a weekly meditation, a yoga class, increasing exercise or doing more artsy activities. If you take the time now to set some mindfulness/contentment goals, you're more likely to do them. As Thich Nhat Hanh, a famous Buddhist master says, "A child lives in the present moment....maybe we have not had enough time to take care of the child within us". (see Taming The Tiger Within by Thich Nhat Hanh and other resources) Doing mindful activities keeps us in the present moment and nurtures the child within. BE A CHILD - ENJOY A MOMENT OF PLAYTIME.
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 The beginning of the school year is a good time to re-evaluate your parenting skills. What worked last year? What would you like to see change this year? As your child(ren) get older, they may need different guidance from you, as well. By anticipating what is coming, developmentally, for your child, you will be better prepared to deal with those changes. Also be mindful that your children are also gearing up for the excitement and stress of a busy lifestyle with school, friends and activities. Acknowledge their feelings of worry, anxiety and/or fear about what the next school year will be like and BE PATIENT with them and yourself. Transitions create a sense of anticipation, excitement and loss (of those summer days!). Setting up a family calendar of events and weekly family meetings can be vital in keeping communication going, talking about transitions and hearing from your kids. Take the time to set up these rituals - you'll be happy you did! |
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