It’s been difficult for me to write for you this past year. It’s been extra difficult finding ways to expand the reach of my books–especially Parenting Through Relationship.
This book brings me such joy! And I want to share that joy with all of you. It represents all that I’ve felt since I was a little, little girl and captivated by all things babies and toddlers. That’s where all of this began for me, when I was so little myself. I chose the colors and rainbow effect because of the feelings they emanate. Feelings of joy, compassion, lightness, even deep care and compassion.
This book represents the mutual delight, laughter, magic, and deeply felt connection I experienced alongside my own mother as we both relished our time with children. Especially as she taught me so much about how to be with little children. Oh I miss her! Parenting Through Relationship makes me smile. And it encourages me, as I re-read, share, reflect–just as I know it can you, too.
I want you to fall in love with all things children, just as I have been and continue to do. To fall in love with parenting your children, with delighting in and being captivated by whatever age and stage you are in. Even during the hard of it all. Maybe especially during the hard of it all, for how else do we get through the hard if it wasn’t for our perseverance…resilience…sense of humor…deep love and commitment to our children?
I want you to be curious about and confident in just how to be and what to do with your new baby and this sometimes challenging and exhausting care-giving role you find yourself in. I want you to take your time, observe, snuggle, relish, be present with your baby and reap the rewards of a deep connection that fills you heart to overflowing. Theirs, too.
I want you to be captivated by the way your toddler examines his world ever so closely–from the teeny tiny insect he squats down on his sturdy little legs to get a closer look at, to the way his eyes twinkle as he, yet again, tests just what the limits are, just what you’ll let him do! Those smiles! Those alligator tears…
I want you to delight in your “out of bounds” preschooler, even as you find yourself pulling your hair out and dealing with, yet again, a full blown tantrum…resistance…an abundance of “WHY?!” Be amazed by their creative, imaginative selves as their world becomes whatever it is they want it to be. At least for this morning. Or the afternoon.
I want you to be entranced by the antics of your elementary aged child and how their world expands exponentially as they march off to school. Friendships, hurt feelings, fort building, game playing, sports, the pleas of “everybody else can so why can’t I?!”, learning to read and write and create create create. All of it. So much growth in these years as they begin as little Kindergartners and end as the pre-teen heading off to middle school.
I want you to know you CAN relish the tumultuous teens (and pre-teens!). That all of their tumult is all about their increased need to FLY. And fly they will. Sometimes leaving us an emotional wreck; but more often and hopefully leaving us feeling oh-so-proud as we watch them soar. Teens are terrific. So much to discover about ourselves as we work hard at guiding our teens…
I want you to relish, be captivated by, delight in, and discover the JOY of all things children and parenting. This is what my work stems from. This is what Parenting Through Relationship reflects. This is what I want for you.
To share the joy that I have lived and continue to find magic in.
To live the deep and meaningful connection that is the path of joy.
This book brings me such joy! And I want to share that joy with all of you. It represents all that I’ve felt since I was a little, little girl and captivated by all things babies and toddlers. That’s where all of this began for me, when I was so little myself. I chose the colors and rainbow effect because of the feelings they emanate. Feelings of joy, compassion, lightness, even deep care and compassion.