Make Yourself a Priority
How to Be a Person First, and a Parent Second Not long ago, I was chatting with a young mother about my work as a happiness and empowerment coach. And she seemed … perplexed. “What is happy?” she asked me. She explained that with two children aged 2 and 3 (and all of the things that […]
My Child’s Success is Not My Own
Praising Their Achievements—Protecting Their Self-Worth Like all you other parents out there, I’m constantly striving to make myself BETTER for my son. A better listener, a better caregiver, a better support system. And I often worry that I’m not making the right decisions. (Spencer is 18, but I still sometimes wonder if I should have […]
All Work and No Play? No Thanks!
How Taking Time from the Busy-ness of Life Reinvigorates the Soul I have a playful personality. It’s a big part of who I am. My brothers and I grew up as big “players”—building forts, organizing treehouse sleepovers, participating in all kinds of sports. To this day, we engage in a lot of play, not just […]
The Power of Connecting with Others
Why You Should Look for Similarities Instead of Differences I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a vacation my family and I took to Punta Cana. Even though the trip was months ago, I can’t get it out of my head thanks to an amazing encounter I had. It was a simple, yet truly profound […]
Am I Doing This Parenting Thing Right?
Focusing on the Parenting Choices That Matter It’s hard being a parent—and so, so easy to shame ourselves for not doing everything right. Hell, do any of us really even know what “right” means when it comes to raising kids? We want our children to grow, thrive, be independent, experience everything life has to offer, […]
A Celebration of Mom
From the Child I Was and The Adult that I Am When I think of the word “mom,” I think of the person who supported me in my youth, who cheered me on at every softball and basketball game and track meet. I think of the person who taught me about values, how to […]
Fridays with Gram
Where Does Your Happiness Come From? Happiness comes in all forms. And sometimes it’s the little things that end up making the biggest impact on your life. For me, happiness often comes over a shared meal with my 93-year-old grandmother. Gram and I have had a standing lunch date every single Friday for the last […]