Ah, January. I love how it’s already becoming evident that the days are lengthening. We may have months of gloom and chill left before spring, but the shortest days of the year are past! Knowing that cabin fever tends to take hold this time of year, why not plan for something new in the next few weeks: a new game, new food, new activity? Shaking free of the monotony is key to surviving the winter doldrums.
If you’re looking for more tips and encouragement especially for moms and dads, check out the topics below from my articles published in this month’s issues of parenting magazines:
Mommy Has Another Name We relish hearing our child call us “Mommy” for the first time. But the thousandth time? We’re not only excused for being tired of hearing it, we’re also liable to have forgotten we ever had an identity outside of being a mom. In this month’s issue of Staten Island Parent I share stories and tips from moms on how to reconnect with yourself as an individual.
This is the Year Has your family mapped out your goals for what you want to see, do, & be this year yet? Have you helped your kids set personal goals? It can be a pretty cool experience for them to set & then reach goals. Make it fun (& more successful) using the four words, “This is the Year.” Learn more in this month’s issue of Treasure Coast Parenting.
Soul Support: 4 Ways to Feed Your Spirit Caring for ourselves sometimes requires tuning in to what moves us, soothes us, grounds us. This article shares four different methods for feeding your spirit. Learn how they might play a role for you – especially if you struggle with seasonal blues. Read it in Central Penn Parent.
Let it Go: 9 Things to Stop Worrying About
When you have kids, it’s hard not to worry. But sometimes it helps just to have someone tell us what’s worth fretting over and what we need to let go of. San Diego Family’s January issue features my list of 9 things that parents can give up – in order to focus on the more important concerns in their life. Like, where did that remote go?
Parenting a Perfectionist Maybe you’re not a worrier, but one of your kids is. Chances are, that child is also a perfectionist. Learning how to best parent a child with these tendencies can be a challenge. In this article, featured in Kansas City Parent, I offer input from professionals and a mom on tips for how to work with your child when perfectionism comes into play.
That Kind of Ski Mom Do you ever look at the moms around you and wish you could be a mom of a different stripe? Yeah, me too. In this essay I talk about how that feeling presents itself for me on the ski slopes and how I am learning to respond.
Maybe hitting the slopes, or getting your kids on skis is on your bucket list. Maybe this is the year for your family (but you’ll need to let go of worrying about your kids’ careening down a mountain). If you were a skier before kids, it could be your chance to reconnect with that former identity. And the fresh air, exhilaration of skiing, and scent of wood fire in at the lodge may be just the food your soul needs.
Whether it’s skiing or not, I hope you’ll consider checking off a winter-related bucket list goal in the next month. I hear Chicagoans have a great new ice skating ribbon to try out in Maggie Daley Park.
Happy January!
