Uncategorized

Hiking With My Son ~ A Mindfulness Practice

Posted by on Nov 22, 2014 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Hiking With My Son ~ A Mindfulness Practice

It’s one hundred degrees in town and the ninety-degree temperature at my house in the mountains feels almost cool in comparison. I decide it’s a perfect day to take my 2-year old son Xavier for a hike.   I know the spot well; a flat trail with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains in the state park just a few miles away.  As soon as we hit the trail he starts running. Fast. I know what’s coming next and cringe. He falls. It seems to hurt me more than it does him. He jumps up and keeps running. He trips again, this time a full-face plant. I rush over to him, and then back off as he pops back up, mouth covered in dirt. We continue this way, stopping occasionally to...

Read More

I Want My Tiger! ~ Using NVC with Toddlers

Posted by on Nov 22, 2014 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

I Want My Tiger! ~ Using NVC with Toddlers

My 2 ½ year old wakes up grumpy. I have no idea where he gets that. This morning, he climbed in to bed with me, stepping on my head along the way, and started whining that I needed to go and get his tiger, blanket, armadillo, monkey, and water, which were all still in his bed. My first thought was, “If all of that is in your bed, and you want it, why not just stay in your bed?” Instead of saying that out loud, however, I got up, and went to get the gang for him. As I lay back down, he took the tiger and threw it, and then proceeded to cry, “I want my tiger!” “I WANT my tiger!”   To say I was irritated is an under-statement.   “I just gave you your tiger.” “I...

Read More

How Thought Labeling Can Reduce Anxiety

Posted by on Oct 13, 2014 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

I am on a hike with my husband and 4-year-old son. We are doing a loop, and we’ve got about a quarter mile left, which is all uphill. We stop for some water and snacks to fuel up for the last stretch. My son sits happily eating a Lara bar. “Look at this ant Momma!” he says. I respond, but it’s halfhearted if I’m honest, as my attention has been pulled elsewhere. The sky is getting dark and the clouds are moving swiftly. The sun seems to have vanished. “It’s going to rain,” I think to myself. Then my mind is off and running. “We’re going to get soaked!” “He’s going to be miserable.”...

Read More

How to Teach Children NVC

Posted by on Aug 26, 2014 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

My son and I are on a walk with our dog when out of the blue he asks me, “What’s an army Momma?” Hmm. One of those trick 4 year-old questions. “An army is a group of people that defend a country,” I answer, happy with my PC reply. “Oh,” he says. Then he asks, “What would you do if an army was trying to hurt me?” I pause, realizing that this is not a hypothetical question for many parents, and feel the impact of that as well as not knowing how to answer. Dang it! I thought I was out of the woods. “What would you do?” He repeats. Whenever I am struggling with how to respond to someone, Non-Violent...

Read More

Just Stop Thinking

Posted by on Feb 20, 2014 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Today I pushed one of those behemoth shopping carts with a car on the end, with my 3 year old inside, through an extremely busy grocery store.  As I made a wide turn into the check out lane, I bumped into the cart in front of me that was being emptied by the store employee.  “Sorry,” I said, “these things are huge!”  To which she responded by completely ignoring me.  “Huh,” I thought to myself.  She had obviously heard me.  When it was my turn to check out, I apologized again, “Sorry about bumping the cart, ” I said, making eye contact with her.  This time she turned her head away, scanning my almond milk, with a slight...

Read More

A Generosity Revolution

Posted by on Jan 10, 2014 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Around this time of year we hear a lot about generosity. ‘Tis the season to give, right? Nothing says I love you like vying for a parking space at the mall and maxing out your credit card. What would it mean right now to start a generosity revolution? How could thinking differently about what it means to give and be generous create more harmony, peace and love in our relationships with our partners, children, co-workers, friends and family members?  To read the full article, click...

Read More