Sometimes we just need to know that someone is in our corner in it with us.

Last night was easy. She told me. It took the guesswork out of trying to figure out what she was feeling. But she didn’t tell me with her words. She didn’t “use her voice.” Her body told me. She was either cold or she was scared. Frankly, it could have been either, but since we were under a tornado watch and the wind was blowing madly through the tops of the trees and it was beginning to rain, her body was shaking like one of the leaves outside, it was easy for me to tell tha

Attachment Related Questions Innate within each one of us is the need for close, intimate relationships. We want people in our lives who we can depend on if ever we are hurt or confused. Life is hard enough as it is. The only thing worse that what life may throw at us is feeling alone in it. We all want to be listened to, heard, accepted. We long to know that no matter what I experience, there is at least one person who will see me and fully embrace me in all my beauty (or la

Be curious for a moment. Imagine you and your child switched bodies. You are now your child. You are now your child's height and size. The abilities you now have are only those of your child's. Whatever the age your child is, that is now how old you are. For most of us, we can all remember being a kid. If we stop and allow ourselves, we can almost transport ourselves back to our favorite childhood memory or favorite childhood spot. Who was there? Where was it? If you close yo

Imagine your spouse or partner tells you that your in-laws are coming over. Your told that they just want to give you something. "What if they come inside? The house is a mess. Dishes are dirty. Clothes are on the floor. Who knows what's in this bowl, and why is not in at least the kitchen, much less the sink? Ugh!" What do you do? Frantically, you pick up, and if nothing at all, you tidy things up. Why? You are afraid someone will criticize the way your home looks. If you ar

Growing up in church, we always sat low, middle on the right hand side. Pew number five, if I remember correctly. My grandpa sat in the middle. It was middle-middle. Sitting next to him was grandma. Depending on who won, my sister or I would sit next to her. Sometimes, if we were lucky, one of us sat in between grandma and grandpa. Then sat my mom and step-dad. It was the perfect spot, so I thought. To my right was the exit door. Perfect for the quick and easy escape as soon

When I was a teenager, I was determined to show all the adults in my life how to be a great parent and how they were not good parents. I was so judgmental. I think most kids are at least to some degree critical of their parents. When I got older in my 20's and before I got married and had kids of my own, my judgmentalism got even stronger. I saw parents correct their kids (or the lack thereof), and I would think, "I will NOT be that kind of parent. I will do things differentl

Your two year old is selfish, and that's a good thing.