Expecting the Unexpected When You’re Expecting
The daughter who made me a mother started kindergarten a few weeks ago. The transition was an emotional one – full of expectations, fears and excitement. Much like the transition I made to motherhood more than five long and short years ago. I remember the flurry of feelings and thoughts I had during her pregnancy;…
Read ArticleFun Art Activities to Do with Your Littles
As some of you may know, I’m a woman with a couple of jobs–my part time job as a Marriage and Family Therapist here at the Institute and my full-time job as a Mother. The hardest, best job I’ve ever had. I find that as a mom who works outside of the home, I struggle…
Read ArticleA Word (or Two) on Praise
Being the mother of two preschool age children, I have an abundance of artwork in my home. Everyday my kids are coming home with new projects into which poured their blood, sweat and tears. What I find even more challenging than finding places to keep them all, is the internal dialogue I often experience when…
Read ArticleBalancing Life Like a Casserole
I had a perfectly warm and fun weekend with friends and family. We picnicked with our toes in the grass, gathered odd pieces of nature into “collections” as my daughter Olive likes to call them, and spent some time cheering on teenage Ultimate Frisbee players. The extra hours of fun outdoors while the dishes sat…
Read ArticleThe Loss That is Motherhood
One of my favorite parts of the week is in facilitating my therapy groups for new and expectant mothers. It is such an honor to be witness and support to women navigating the maze that is new motherhood. It is a time in life charged with anticipation and excitement and all too often mixed with…
Read ArticleThe Mindful Family
Last week, I had one of those days. You know the ones… where nothing seems to be going right and the harder you try to fix it, the worse it gets. Thankfully, just as I was about to go off the deep end I received a gentle reminder from a friend:breatheAaah, the missing link of the…
Read ArticleBalancing the Super Parent Within Us
For some of us, spring is a time of year when the impulse to do it all and be it all kicks into high gear. The promise of warmer weather and longer days ahead brings plenty of new opportunity and an increase in expectations and over-scheduling. Is it really possible to meet all the obligations…
Read ArticleFun Art Activities to Do with Your Littles
As some of you may know, I’m a woman with a couple of jobs–my part time job as a Marriage and Family Therapist here at the Institute and my full-time job as a Mother. The hardest, best job I’ve ever had. I find that as a mom who works outside of the home, I struggle…
Read ArticleMaking the Most out of Valentine’s Day
February is packed with holidays and meaning. It’s Black History month, National Heart Health month and we honor the birth of a few past U.S. presidents with a Monday off. If you are a parent with elementary aged children, the holiday that probably gets the most attention in your home is Valentine’s Day — the…
Read ArticleBook Review: Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? by Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei
Welcome to the New and Young Families Corner! In the months to come Vicki Chiang, PsyD and I will be bringing you some great new resources, including book reviews, articles on topics related to the exciting and challenging transition to family-hood, and fun activities to do with your wee ones. This month, I’m excited to…
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