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Just Ask
advice, ideas & inspiration for families
December, 2014
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Baby Sign Language classes ~ Register early ~ Space is limited
Introductory Workshops for those just starting out.
Six-Day Playgroup Series once your baby is around six months and older.
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Happy Holidays!
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No matter how you celebrate this year, we hope that your holiday season brings you and your family much joy.
Bill & Kathleen
and our team of instructors, coaches, and massage therapists
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About Us
Touch Blue Sky is the collaborative work of the husband/wife team of Kathleen Harper and Bill White. We help parents live with more joy by illuminating new ways to nurture, communicate, and connect with themselves, each other, and their children. We love to share what excites us with families throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including sign language programs for families and children of all ages, and one-on-one life coaching sessions and workshops for moms. For more information, please visit the Touch Blue Sky website and feel free to contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon! Take care, Bill White
Sign Language Director
bill@touchbluesky.com
Kathleen HarperCertified Life Coach/
Program Directorkathleen@touchbluesky.com |
Kathleen / Mommy Mentor
Bill / Sign Language
for Babies & Children
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Taking in the View
 When my boys were babies and toddlers, I spent time wishing that they'd sleep more, that breastfeeding didn't take so long, that motherhood didn't demand so much of me when I didn't have anything extra to spare. Because this "first trimester of motherhood" throughout my sons' infancy and preschool years felt so hard, I focused my attention and effort on getting to the second phase, what I called The Light at the End of the Tunnel - kindergarten. I told myself, "When my youngest gets into kindergarten, it will all be so much easier."
And it was. I had more time to focus on the work that I enjoyed, to build a bit of self-care into my routine, to enjoy time with girlfriends and my husband, to breathe.
But by keeping my eyes on that light that promised easier times ahead and pushing through the the sleep deprivation, fussy babies, and demanding toddlers, I didn't take in the happy times, the good stuff, the irretrievable moments of sloppy baby kisses and sweet smelling skin.
It was like traveling through Italy's countryside in a train car with the blinds closed. I ended up in Rome, but didn't see any scenery along the way.
My husband Bill has so many vivid memories. He'll start reminiscing about something from when the boys were little and sometimes I'll have a vague, fuzzy recollection, like an out of focus photograph without any rich emotional connection to it. I can easily recall so many of the hard times - I remember vividly the long night I initiated sleep training for my two year old son based on recommendations from the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, the wrenching frustration when the nanny spilled full bottles of holy breast milk, my consuming fear when my infant son had a unexplained fever that wouldn't break.
Our brains are wired to hold onto the hard moments. This negativity bias served humans well in ancient times. As hunter gatherers, we didn't have the luxury of waiting to see if the rustling in the bushes was a tiger or a rabbit. "To keep our ancestors alive, Mother Nature evolved a brain that routinely tricked them into making three mistakes: overestimating threats, underestimating opportunities, and underestimating resources (for dealing with threats and fulfilling opportunities)," writes Rick Hanson, PhD, neuropsychologist and author of many books including his recent Hardwiring Happiness. "This is a great way to pass on gene copies, but a lousy way to promote quality of life."
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Saturday Sanctuary for Moms December 6th, San Mateo
Celebrate Yourself This Holiday SeasonDecember's Saturday Sanctuary will be a mommy-time celebration, giving back to ourselves a bit of the energy and effort we spend on others. We'll enjoy mulled cider and holiday treats, create a special ornament, and spend time sharing our stresses around the holidays and solutions to them in a safe, supportive group facilitated by certified life coach Kathleen Harper.
Each two-hour retreat includes a short guided meditation, circle time to share and find insight and solutions, new ideas and tools, and a hands-on craft project to build a bridge between the retreat and your daily routine. Light refreshments are provided.
"This was the kind of break I really needed.
It reminded me of things I needed to remember."
Saturday, December 6th
San Mateo
10:00 to noon
$40
Register Now!
The groups are just for moms so that you can take the time for yourself without distractions from your family. Space is limited to only eight moms; registration is required.
Come to Saturday Sanctuary for Moms to rest,
relax, and renew. You'll head home happier.
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Baby Sign Language
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Teach your baby to sign
I LOVE YOU
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Touch Blue Sky offers many ways for you and your family to learn, practice and enjoy baby sign language:
- A 90-minute Introductory Workshop where you'll learn about the benefits of signing with your baby, how to integrate signing into your daily routine, and start your signing vocabulary with 40 signs.
- Playgroup Boom and Zoom - two different playgroup series that meet for six one-hour sessions. Both Playgroups include the essential basic starter signs but vary in the more advanced vocabulary.
- VaVOOM! Touch Blue Sky's new Toddler/Preschooler Signing Series that meets for eight 45-minute sessions.
Coming Soon!
Register Today ~ Space is Limited
Babies are welcome but not required to attend
Introductory Workshops
Birth to 18 months old
Healthy Horizons, Burlingame
to register or call 650-347-6455 Saturday December 13 2:30 - 4:00
Blossom Birth, Palo Alto
Click here to register
or call 650-321-2326
Saturday January 10 12:00 - 1:30
DayOne Baby, Palo Alto
Call 650-646-7644 to register
Thursday January 15 2:30 - 4:00
Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Foster City
Tuesday January 20 10:00 - 11:30
Six-Day Playgroup Series
4 - 18 months old
Blossom Birth, Palo Alto
Saturdays January 17 - February 28
10:45- 11:45 Playgroup Boom
12:00- 1:00 Playgroup Zoom
Skip 2/14
Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City Open to the community! To register call 650-299-2433
Saturdays, February 21 - March 28
3:00 - 4:00 Playgroup Zoom
VaVoom!
Toddler & Preschooler Series
Eight 45-minute sessions | 18 mos. - 5 yrs.
Blossom Birth, Palo Alto
Click here to register!
Eight Fridays, January 9 - March 6
3:30 - 4:15
Skip 2/13
Host a class at your home
and earn a free registration!
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