Banishing the Should Mama This post is an excerpt from my book Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection not Perfection. This moment, which I originally wrote about in 2013, sparked a huge transformation for my parenting, reducing guilt and allowing me to enjoy my family [...]Continue Reading
dealing with guilt
Make Sure Your Family Feels the Love – it’s simpler than you may think
A friend of mine is grieving the loss of her mother this week. She sent out a simple, yet heartfelt message that said: "If it’s been a bit since you’ve talked to someone you love.... pick up the phone and say I love you." I’ve been thinking about that this week. Pick up the phone and say I [...]Continue Reading
This Shift in Perspective Took Away the Choke-hold of Guilt on my Parenting
When I first had kids, I had no idea of the huge weight of guilt I was about to take on. For one thing, I didn't realize I had a temper until I the first time I found myself yelling my head off at my nine month old baby who was crying in the back seat - where had that momster come from!? I had so [...]Continue Reading
I Know a Secret About Getting Past the Monster
I've made so many mistakes. And I used to be paralyzed by the feelings of shame and guilt I had about those mistakes. This is a story for any of you who live with a bleak inner monster who whispers to you about why you'll never be worthy or lovable. Many of us get pretty good at shutting out the [...]Continue Reading
What Good Mothers Do
In the youngest years of my children's lives I lived in a world of possibility, and one terrifying possibility was that I might screw it all up. This worry, and the guilt that went with it each time I made a mistake, was crushing in its weight.I wanted to parent perfectly, and I could become nearly [...]Continue Reading
Starting Over – 5 Questions for Making Your Personal Plan
As we've been talking about using a kind voice instead of yelling here, many people have left comments like this one, "On those days where I’ve just lost my cool too many times and the guilt just overwhelms me when my head hits that pillow. I vow tomorrow I’ll be better. And then that vicious [...]Continue Reading
