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20.04.2020

What is Postpartum Rage?

You’ve made it home with your new babe. You’re adjusting to the lifestyle changes and working through the hormones and the new everyday intensity that come along with postpartum life. You’ve possibly heard of “Postpartum Depression”, “Baby Blues” and “Postpartum Anxiety”. The trouble is, none of these searches online or discussions with your friends and loved ones fit the bill of what you are experiencing. Maybe you’re feeling tired, a little sad, and worried about your new

Christin

17.04.2020

Day Ten – Pressing The Re-Set Button on Your Family Life During Social Isolation

Nobody Is Perfect. End. Of. Story. So while you’re at it, abandon perfectionism. Be kind to yourself and your family. The house will be messy, people will have to be convinced to bathe, you will eat junk, those long-standing house jobs will not get completed as quickly as you envisioned, if not at all. That’s alright. Go back to the values. I can safely guess that NOBODY came up with “Do All The Things” as their top

Christin

16.04.2020

Day Nine – Pressing the Re-Set Button on Your Family Life During Social Isolation

Recognize that this is hard. These days may seem long. Making all the lists in the world does not help the work get done, the structure implemented and the values applied. Some days will just suck. Moods, loneliness even when amongst the family, loss or reduction of connections with peers, sports, teachers, co-workers will take its toll. Recognize this and take a break. Pyjama days, Netflix marathons or extra screen time will be necessary. And that is

Christin

15.04.2020

Day Eight – Pressing the Re-Set Button on Your Family Life During Social Isolation

Prioritize humour and fun. Does your family love to laugh? I mean REALLY laugh? What makes the family laugh? “Dad” jokes? That elusive TV show or comedy that everyone can agree on? When my children were little, they had a hard time understanding why other families do not have “dance parties” in their kitchens and living rooms. The ability to be silly and “dance like nobody (except your immediate family who will laugh until they cry at mom’s

Christin

14.04.2020

Day Seven – Team Meetings: The Weekly Check-In

When a family spends time together, they learn about each other. One simple way is to ask the “what as good about your day? What was not so good about your day?” questions, going around the table at dinner. This facilitates conversation and gives everyone a chance to share. Even though our worlds are much smaller, you will be surprised at how everyone has had ups and downs. As parents, use this to stay in tune with what your kids are

Christin

13.04.2020

Day Six – Moving From the Me to We

Team Building: Your family is a “We”. End of story. Even when you disagree, you fight, are hurt or overwhelmed, your family has your back. Talk about how each family member likes and needs to be supported. To borrow from John Chapman’s The Five Love Languages, learn the ways each member of your family wants and needs to feel appreciated and loved. Words of affirmation: showing love through how you speak, using words of encouragement, gratitude, positive

Christin

10.04.2020

Day Five – Assessing Your Communication Strategies: Aim To Cultivate Understanding

Day Five Think about how your family communicates. Do you listen to respond, or do you listen to really listen? Think about it. Learning how to be a good listener means shutting your mouth. Enough said. Try it. Interrupters unite! I come from a long line of interrupters. If you need a “talking stick” (or hockey puck, stuffed animal, etc), get one! Whoever holds the speaking object has the floor. Next, think about how you show others

Christin

09.04.2020

Day Four – Bumps in the Road: Applying Values and Family Rules to Your Day to Day.

This is the hard part. Start by acknowledging that NOBODY is perfect. Parents will screw up, and kids will screw up. When we are hurt, angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, we are ripe for screw-ups. Think about this (and teach your kids to as well). When you are feeling like you are “losing it”, ask yourself these HALT questions: Am I Hungry Am I Angry Am I Lonely Am I Tired I also

Christin

08.04.2020

Day Three – Pressing the Re-Set Button on Your Family Life During Social Isolation

Day Three READ THIS IF YOU HAVE SCHOOL AGE KIDDOS AND/OR TEENS Talk, talk, and talk. Have a chat about how the kids think parents can help them develop these values and the habits that go with them. Start with brainstorming and then move to develop some concrete rules around conduct and behaviour in the home. Parents, be vulnerable. Share how it is hard for you to maintain the self-discipline to “walk the walk” every day. Share your

Christin

07.04.2020

Day Two – Pressing the Re-Set Button on Your Family Life During Social Isolation

Day Two Take some time to think about the vision you have for your family. Think back to when you looked at your sweet, delicate infants for the first time. I am sure you had dreams for your babies from day one. You jumped ahead to the distant future, picturing them as an astronaut, a physician or a judge. However, once reality kicked in, you knew that you needed to examine your family values and think about how you

Christin

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