Self-Care as a River: A Gentle Reframe for Parents
As parents, the message to “prioritize self-care” can start to feel like another item on the to-do list. Inspired by writer Oliver Burkeman’s advice to approach your to-be-read pile as a river—something that flows endlessly past you, offering possibilities instead of pressure—we can reframe self-care the same way. Instead of a bucket of self-care tasks to complete, imagine a river of self-care practices gently flowing alongside your life. You don’t have to scoop it all up or get through every option. You simply reach in and take what you want, when you want it.
S.U.R.F.F.ing the Wave of Parental Wellness: Self-Advocacy, Unconditional Love, Rest, Friends, and Fun
Surfing the wave of parental wellness involves not only tending to the needs of our children but also taking care of ourselves through self-advocacy, unconditional love, ample rest, the support of friends, and embracing the fun side of life. Keep reading to explore how these five pillars of self-care contribute to a more joyful and rich parenting experience.
Seasonal Self-Care: 5 Summer Self-Care Tips for Parents
Summer signals a time of rest, play, and fun–for kids. However, for parents, the change in season also means piecing together affordable childcare and camps while parents that work outside of the home also juggle regular work responsibilities. Keep reading for 5 ways to nourish yourself, a new YouTube conversation with a fellow therapist and mother, and free worksheets to boost your fun this season.
The 5 Ss of Self-Care: Self-Compassion, Snuggles, Sunlight, Snoozing, and Self-Advocacy
Among the myriad of self-care practices available–and steering away from companies marketing expensive products that promise improved wellness–the 5 Ss of self-care can help ground parents and help them prioritize their well-being. Keep reading to learn more about the significance of self-compassion, snuggles, sunlight, snoozing, and self-advocacy.
Embracing Nature: 11 Ways to Start Your Gentle Self-Care Journey for Parents that are Less Comfortable in the Great Outdoors
As caretakers, it's easy to lose sight of our own well-being amid the hustle and bustle of life with kids. While the idea of spending time in nature might seem daunting for those who aren't particularly outdoorsy, immersing yourself in natural surroundings can be a rejuvenating self-care practice. In this blog, we will explore how even “non-outdoorsy” parents can embrace nature as a means of finding moments of peace, presence, and joy.
Adding More Nourishment to Your Life as a Tired Parent
Grab your FREE Self-Care worksheet that helps you identify the difference between draining and nourishing activities in addition to 50+ self-care ideas + 6 inspirational quotes.
40 Family Self-Care Ideas
Family self-care is powerful for two reasons. The first is that children learn more from our actions than from our words. The second is that it is not healthy to wait until you have time away from your kids to practice self-care, and me-time is not so easy to come by during certain stages of parenthood. Read for the complete list of family self-care ideas!
Guest Post for The Nourish App: Wellbeing for Mums
Making time, when it feels like there is no time, for self-care isn’t easy. Parenting can be meaningful, joyful, and rewarding–but, it’s also hard work and it takes a tremendous amount of energy. Click to find out 7 Ways To Make Your Self-Care Non-Negotiable.
6 Ways to Navigate the No Kids to Kids Transition with Your Self-Care Routine
Having kids flips your self-care routine upside down. Here are six things you can do to help with the transition if you are a new parent.
Using Music for Self-Care: How Music Can Help Parents and Children Regulate Their Emotions and Experience More Joy
Monique Bathis is a music therapist with over a decade of experience working in the acute pediatric setting, disability sector and private practice. More recently, Monique has been working with parents, specifically Mothers, guiding them to reconnect and rediscover themselves through creative modalities. Read the full blog to find out six ways you can incorporate music into your self-care routine.
4 Ways to Practice Self-Care During Mother’s Day
Tips to make the most of your Mother’s Day this year and going forward. Mama, your role and work deserves to be celebrated!
Free Mindful Self-Compassion Webinar
Learn 3 ways to disempower your inner critic and 3 ways to grow your self-compassionate voice. We are often our own worst critic, but there is a different way. Modeling self-compassion is the most effective way to teach your children how to be kind to themselves.
Grow Your Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Skills through Journaling
Get a sneak peek inside the new guided journal that accompanies the book, “Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity, and Joy” by Shauna Shapiro, PhD. The post highlights journaling research and five benefits of mindfulness and self-care for parents. You’ll also read the story behind my mindfulness practice that started over a decade ago in my first graduate school class with none other than Shauna Shapiro, PhD!
Be Kind to Your Mind Poster for Kids: 9 Growth Mindset, Self-Care + Mindfulness Affirmations
Help your kids build new neural pathways that are compassionate, kind and encouraging by using positive affirmations. This poster is Pop It themed because of how much the students I work with enjoy these fidget toys.
Getting Out the Door with Fewer Battles: The Power of the Visual Schedule
Grab your FREE visual schedule for the morning routine to help your day get off to a smoother start with young children!
20 Products You Need to Create the Ultimate Self-Care Toolkit
I wanted to share some of my favorite self-care products that have helped me and my clients for the past decade. You do not need all of these products for your toolkit, but perhaps you might add a few to things you already have at home. Also, calming toys do lose their luster after some time, so I hope this will help you refresh your own or your child’s self-care toolkit for the years to come.
Self-Care for the Senses Poster
In my job as a school-based mental health clinician I support families in coping with symptoms of anxiety. I created this self-care for the senses poster to help kids and parents come back to the present instead of focusing on the future. I hope these self-care ideas offer a soothing energy for your senses!
Meeting Back-to-School Jitters with Self-Compassion
Help your child navigate the back-to-school transition with self-compassion. You can also get a FREE back-to-school guide that features parents scrips + 6 ways for kids to practice being kind to themselves.
One Mother’s Love Letter to Starbucks
Sometimes Starbucks is all the self-care you need. Read more to learn the integral role Starbucks played in my self-care routine when my children were very young in addition to learning about a mindful coffee break you can do in under five minutes.
Social Justice + Self-Care Interactive Calendar
Grab and share your free Social Justice + Self-Care calendar for Black History Month and beyond!
