Meaningful Connections

Happy New Year! Did anyone make any resolutions? I’d love to hear them. I’ve decided to take better care of myself, emotionally, spiritually, physically and any other way I can think of. Surely those around me will also benefit as I’m guessing I’ll have so much more to give. And I’m going to try very hard to live in the present moment. So far I’m spending a lot of time reminding myself but when I’m in it, it feels amazing, calm and peaceful. The best part is that I notice everything around me and see the joy and beauty. ‘Being’ instead of ‘Thinking’. It’s the new year I’m hoping for. The present moment is truly all we have.

What's to love about shared care parenting?
I know I'm not alone as a parent who shares custody of their children. There is so much negativity regarding this and I'd just like to throw an alternate perspective out there.
Even though I miss my children terribly when they're not at home, I get to lay on my daybed and read a book occasionally.
... Although my children aren't tucked up in bed under my roof every night, I get to sleep in some mornings.
Sometimes I see families playing at the creek and I feel alone but I can walk on the beach in total silence.
Once I was on my driveway as I waved goodbye to them as they left with their dad and my neighbour, who was in her front yard picking up bikes, scooters and skateboards, gave me a cheeky, envious look and said, 'oh I'm so envious, there's something in this shared care thing'.
Missing them is hard but when they're home they get the best of me. They get the 'calm, well rested, excited to see them, happy to have someone to cook for' me.
There were times when I didn't exactly agree with my ex-husband's choices (this one was hard to find a positive for 😉) But I learned that for the sake of my children's happiness I could put my pride aside and learn new ways to get along. A funny thing happened when I let go of resentment and anger......I didn't feel resentful and angry. I found happiness and I wrapped my children in it and allowed them to love their dad in my presence.
The shared care thing can be tough, but there are so many wonderful moments.
What will you choose to focus on today?
Please share and lets spread a new perspective.
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WHAT IS A GRANDPARENT? (Taken from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds)
Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own. They like other people's.
... A grandfather is a man, & a grandmother is a lady!
Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them.. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.
When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.
They show us and talk to us about the colors of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on 'cracks.'
They don't say, 'Hurry up.'
Usually grandmothers are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.
They wear glasses and funny underwear.
They can take their teeth and gums out.
Grandparents don't have to be smart.
They have to answer questions like 'Why isn't God married?' and 'How come dogs chase cats?'
When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.
Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the only grownups who like to spend time with us..
They know we should have snack time before bed time, and they say prayers with us and kiss us even when we've acted bad.
A 6-YEAR-OLD WAS ASKED WHERE HIS GRANDMA LIVED.''OH,'' HE SAID, ''SHE LIVES AT THE AIRPORT, AND WHEN WE WANT HER, WE JUST GO GET HER. THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE HAVING HER VISIT, WE TAKE HER BACK TO THE AIRPORT.''
GRANDPA IS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH! HE TEACHES ME GOOD THINGS, BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM ENOUGH TO GET AS SMART AS HIM!
It's funny when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.
How wonderful to get some insight into these little darlings' thoughts. Grandparents, you should be horrified and offended but I bet you're heart is all filled up. Grandparents rule!!!
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Selfishly Unselfish
Dr Shefali Tsabary is a brilliant teacher of conscious parenting and I love her work. It speaks to me as a parent and as an individual in that our children can lead us to the discovery of our own true being. Her books are in your face, innovative and thought provoking reads and I have learnt through her books that parenting consciously isn’t for the faint of heart as it requires a courageous excavation of the roots of your own emotional wounds in order t...
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Are You Ok?
Is this the one question you're hoping no-one asks you today?
Are you only just holding it together?
... Are these words enough to make you burst into tears?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
So many of us feel overwhelmed but you'd never know it. We're often just hanging in there with our brave faces on. Sometimes all we need is someone to talk to, someone who'll listen, who won't judge, won't argue and won't have any expectations of us. Let's be that for each other today. Reach out to a friend and ask them, "Are you ok?"
(If you feel that you would benefit from Professional Counselling please contact me at Meaningful Connections Counselling and Family Support. We are here to help, one step at a time).
If you can relate to this or know someone who can please share and let's reach out to each other.
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How many of us wish we could turn back the clock a few years? Back to when we were younger, fitter, thinner, had more hair, had less stress, had more free time, were madly in love, were passionate………… I wonder how I’ll feel in the future. Will I long to be the 2017 me in 10 years? Will I wish I’d enjoyed being her? Wish I’d lived in the moment, held my children tighter while they were still at home and I was the centre of their worlds? Will I wish I’d appreciated my health, my job, my Mum? No matter how much we look back into our past or how we chose to look towards the future, all we truly have is right NOW! I have discovered that when I put my energy into this moment, this minute, this second, I find PEACE. Give it a go.