When i was very young and into my teenage years I had a certain perception of my parents that they were very dysfunctional. My childhood did not offer me the societal norms (at that time less than 30% of couples were divorced) of two parents who were not only role models but there to guide you and direct you. I often joke it was like being raised by wolves, kind of wild and dangerous even though we had a den mother. My parents were both hippies and my father was a professional artist before he became a contractor, but since I was very young I felt an enormous pressure to direct myself without a lot of guidance. This made it hard for me to have an adult role model, until my mother passed away.

give them someone

I, like most people - was always under the impression that for a caterpillar to transform into a butterfly they simply encase themselves in a cocoon, sprout wings and poof! They are now a butterfly. The reality is much more gruesome…caterpillars completely liquify in that cocoon. Their cells melt, then reassemble…and build a butterfly from scratch. It is a complete physical metamorphosis, though they retain memory of their former caterpillar self.

metamorphosis of motherhood

Historically, birth wasn’t really a big deal. It was a fact of life, a very common event that took place in almost every home, in every family. Attended by mothers, sisters, friends and the midwife. You labored with the support of all the women in your life. Women witnessed birth before they had their own children, therefore there was no mystery and very little distress or fear. Yes, mothers and babies died in childbirth, but that too had almost an air of mundane, another fact of life.

the weight of birth

Relationships are hard. H. A. R. D. They are, even when things are butterflies and rainbows and chocolate chip cookies. Add in a global pandemic and things can get, well, sticky, icky, icky. The pandemic has magnified the degree in which we rely on our partners and spend time with our partners because our boundaries, routines, rituals and literal 

 have been taken away from us. And with that, many people find themselves connecting to their phone, their work, and their “to-dos” more than to “their person”. To examine this, we’ve asked a few people (some in relationships and some not — we see you singles!) two important questions and here’s what they have been willing to share. Here’s to hoping you feel a little less alone in this. 

loving during a pandemic

If no one has beaten me to the punch, allow me to be the first to coin the phrase “Covid Parenting Syndrome” (CPS). It’s an honest-to-goodness psychological phenomenon that, I believe, the clinical world will be treating for generations. Since homeschooling launched in March, I’ve been informally gathering data from parents (male and female alike) and found that CPS is characterized by, but by no means limited to, high anxiety, discharge of anger, impatience, guilt, shame, grief, isolation, despondency, marital strife, weight gain, and alcohol abuse. Did I mention weight gain? And in many cases CPS has been triggered by homeschooling.

diary of a homerschooler

If anyone out there has miscarried, then you understand. Even if you haven’t, I’m sure you can imagine the heartbreak. For my partner and I, it wasn’t so much the loss of the pregnancy as the loss of the idea - the excitement. It seemed like we had just come to terms with the notion of being parents and bringing a life into this world when it was snatched aways from us. I’m not gonna lie, I cried in the bath… a lot. It was messy. I couldn't believe it was happening; I had built a vision in my mind of this baby and then it was gone. Gone.

just an empty uterus

Heres’ what I’ve come to know: There cannot be peace, be it with another person or with ourselves, until we take an honest examination of our motives. (Motive is defined as a reason for doing something, especially one that is hidden or not obvious.) And this is especially true when it comes to our relationships.

motive is everything

Everyone is obsessed with morning routines, but what about nighttime? How you unwind from your day is as important to your overall well-being as your morning self-care practice is. A calming nighttime routine can help relax an anxious mind, soothe aching muscles, and prepare your total being for deep, restorative rest.

night time routine 101

It’s understandable if you’re feeling complicated about the holidays this year. Entering the holiday season can feel fraught with stress at the best of times. With 

 tightening down again worldwide, you might not know what to make of a season that traditionally centers around community-based gatherings.

intentional gifting

 and with Mothers Day on the horizon, it's the perfect opportunity to talk about maternal mental health and the importance of self-care.

Beyond the Body

give them someone

metamorphosis of motherhood

the weight of birth

loving during a pandemic

diary of a homerschooler

just an empty uterus

motive is everything

night time routine 101

intentional gifting

why mothers matter

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