As many of you know, I am in the (very long, painfully slow) process of adopting my niece R from the foster care system, and to that end, I have been required to remain in the state of Florida (where she was born) throughout … Continue reading On Our Way, With a Little Help From Our Friends (A Christmas Miracle)
“Slow down, and then slow down some more. Indicate, and tell even a child who doesn’t understand verbal communication yet, “I’m going to pick you up.” And then comes my magic word. If people only remember that one word: Wait. Then you wait and the child gives a signal, most likely. It depends on the age. … Continue reading RIE From The Start- 2 Simple Things You Can Do to Support Baby
It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I didn’t choose it so much as it chose me. All I had to do was say yes. It’s like looking into a mirror. There’s no arguing with the reflection. It’s just what is… Reflected back is the good, the bad, the ugly. Do I have … Continue reading Nothing Else Matters- The Gift of RIE
He isn’t a baby anymore. He’s growing in leaps and bounds, and scaling new heights every day, in every way. As his world grows larger and he begins to play with other children besides his sister (who has been the world to him up to now), both the physical and the emotional challenges he faces are … Continue reading Falling- A Lesson In Friendship, Forgiveness, and Moving On
“What is RIE anyway, and what it it all about ? I’ve heard that it is sort of cult like, that it is “hands off” parenting, that RIE believes in letting babies cry and not helping them… How can any of this be good for children ? Babies are vulnerable and need their parents to … Continue reading What Is RIE Anyway?
It’s been a long time since I’ve written a post. My “baby” is now eight years old, and she inspired this post. I am sharing a recent conversation we had, with her permission, “because all adults should know…” “Mom, is it weird that I still suck my thumb?” “I don’t think so. It seems to … Continue reading A Message From My Daughter – “All Adults Should Know…”
From my mailbox: “Mornings have always been my biggest struggle. I’m not a morning person. Mornings at our house are always chaotic, the children are cranky and picking at each other, someone inevitably ends up yelling (me), and sometimes we all end up in tears, not to mention I end up forgetting important … Continue reading 5 Hints For Better Mornings
“How do you handle cleaning up toys for a three year old? Or should I not have this expectation? My husband asked my three year old to pick up toys and she said, “No thanks”. So he said he would take something away if she did not do it. I don’t agree with this and … Continue reading Clean Up, Clean Up
I am so excited and honored to be teaming up with Janet Lansbury to offer an afternoon question-and-answer symposium in Santa Cruz, CA, on October 7, 2017. I hope some of you will be able to join us. It is sure to be a lively discussion! Tickets are available now, and you can purchase them … Continue reading Respectful Parenting Symposium With Janet Lansbury
My girl is adopted. She is my biological niece, and my daughter. We are four and a half years into our relationship together. I unexpectedly became her mother at the age of forty nine years old, (after twenty five years of being a professional infant toddler caregiver and educator), under the most unusual and trying of … Continue reading Meditation on Motherhood
