In this new world reality, more and more I have people reaching out online. It is one source of connection that we still safely make. Phone calls, video chats, Facebook messages all flow with messages and reminders that we are in this together. Isn't it beautiful?

Neighborhoods are coming together in a way that most hadn't before. People are meeting their neighbors as they cross paths (distantly) on walks or make sidewalk drawings and games to share. Our neighborhood is having a driveway party this afternoon where everyone can chat with each other for a few designated hours from the distance of our own driveways. 

Before all this life was flying passed. We gave a wave, knew a couple neighbors' names, but mostly just kept up with our own busy life. Suddenly we find ourselves seeking those closest to us. We are building the community and connections that our great grandparents had. We are building something that will ultimately make us a stronger, more connected and more compassionate society.

I'm grateful for the ways to reach out to loved ones. I'm grateful to commit to weekly calls and video chats with family. I'm grateful to witness more connections growing in our neighborhood. I'm grateful to see all those who are healthy and out walking. I'm grateful to hear from my community that most everyone is well and has what they need. I'm grateful to see the outpouring of generosity for those who are not well or are in need of assistance. I'm grateful to all those who are maintaining social distance to help others stay healthy. I'm grateful to connect with family, friends, and neighbors.

What form of connection is helping you most? Who are you making a priority? Are you taking time to connect to people who raise you up as well as the people who are needing your help?

May today make the connections that fill our hearts. May we make it a priority to connect to the people who fill our hearts and soul. May we come out of this with stronger communities and families. Have a beautiful day!

Today I had the joy of hanging out with my group of mom friends. Six kids under the age of three (for a couple more days) and four mamas just enjoying the morning. It is that beautiful chaos that renews the soul. 

The best thing about mom friends is they are literally each other's sanity. You can say things that you wouldn't say to other people, compare notes, and pick up tips. And there is no judgment. We all get it.

Even as my little one screamed her head off, all I had to do was look up and my friends and know I was supported. It is the most beautiful gift a mom can have and I am lucky to not have 1 mom friend, but several. This group of women is my bliss and gratitude. And to top it off, there were homemade muffins today! 

I'm so grateful for an amazing morning. I'm grateful to just relax and chat. I'm grateful for our different backgrounds that helps share tips. I'm grateful for who each of these women are individually and I'm grateful to be a part of the group. I'm grateful to have my cup filled and my gratitude abounding. I'm so grateful to have met these women and for all we have been through together.

Who is your "boat in the storm"? What groups lift you up?

May today remind us the power of a loving, non-judgmental space. May we give and receive this beautiful gift. Have a beautiful day!

My oldest daughter will turn three in one month. I can't believe how the time haws flown. In these three years she has proved to be an exceptional child. She is observant, precocious, stubborn, with the most joyously infectious personality I think I've ever met. 

She has been picking out her outfits since she was barely one year old. Her fashion sense and mine do not generally agree but I do my best to guide a little and give as much fashion freedom as I can. Currently she is very into skirts and tutus. 

Back in the Spring, my daughter's school had an art show. I had the privilege of helping set up for it and one of the tasks I got to be a part of was helping the kids paint a skirt for the art teacher to wear on the big night. Yes, you read that right. The art teacher made a white skirt and let each student add a little paint decoration to it for a completely custom art show outfit. I love this art teacher and all her creativity! 

My daughter talked about the skirt for weeks. So with her birthday approaching I asked her if she would like to make a special birthday outfit rather than buy one. She emphatically said yes! And just like that we were off to the fabric and craft store to get some supplies. 

Currently my sweet daughter's favorite color is white. In all the years I have worked with preschool age children I believe she is the first kid I have known to claim white as their favorite color. This made it easy to find a t-shirt to paint! One white t-shirt, check. Next we went to the fabric section to pick out the tulle for a special birthday tutu. Much to my surprise she decided she wanted lime green tulle only but with white ribbon trim. Hopefully what I can pull off is satisfactory to the image she has in her head. 

There are three things I love most about this project. One, it honors creativity and her own sense of style. Two, it will allow her to be part of the process and show her how capable she is as she designs and carries out helping make her outfit. Three, it is one of those bonding moments that I will cherish forever as we get to spend this special time together.

I'm so grateful for my daughter's awesome art teacher. I'm grateful for this fun idea of making a special outfit. I'm grateful to have some basic sewing skills and an abundance of creativity myself. I'm grateful to do creative projects with my daughter and watch her excitement. I'm grateful for my daughter's strong personality and fashion sense. I'm grateful to try my best to honor her and let her be herself. I'm grateful for these moments that I will cherish forever.

What is a memory you will always cherish? How do you make things special, whether it be an outfit, a birthday, or just a moment in time? What is your creative outlet?

May today remind us to honor each other as uniquely beautiful beings. May we take every opportunity to create cherished memories. Have a beautiful day!

I've written before about the idea of comparison being the "thief of joy". And I've read parenting book after parenting book that warns against making comparisons between siblings. Yet I still see it in round-about ways popping up.

All through this pregnancy I keep having people tell me "just remember your next child probably won't be as smart/ advanced/ social as your daughter." My usual response is to laugh and say, "yep, but maybe the next one will sleep!" The truth is these are still comparisons. And how do you compare smart or advanced anyway? Every person has different strengths. Why should that be different as children? 
 
Last night I went to a picnic with a group of friends we haven't seen but maybe once or twice since my daughter was born.  When my daughter entered this world I had hoped to become closer to one of them in particular and yet it was not a mutual wish. Comparison seems to separate us. We will be having a pleasant chat but the second the kids come up the conversation shuts down. 

I don't think I am a braggy mom. If fact, I feel I vent my frustrations to mom friends more than triumphs. But in relaying conversations that I have with my daughter I must admit that her language skills and reasoning is beyond what I thought a child under three was capable. 

I have had many friends comment about this as well. Or comment on how their child's language is not as advanced. Meanwhile their child is fully potty trained, or off climbing the jungle gym by themselves, or interacting socially with kids their age while my daughter still stands to the side saying hi but not quite sure how to engage. They all have their strengths. None of these strengths are better or worse, they just are, and yet it gets in the adult mind. 

It is not just this one friend. I don't mean to single her out; it was just my most recent interaction where it was obvious. I catch myself doing it too, especially now as more and more of my daughter's friends become potty trained in a weekend. But these comparisons don't help any of us. They aren't healthy for us as parents or for our children. Even the warnings I get that my next child will be different, as if somehow I will be let down by number two's differences, plants harmful thoughts. 

I have a friend who speaks multiple languages. I have a friend who has a high income, high demand job that she navigates on top of being a mom. I have a mom that's zen level is unmatched and she seems to have infinite patience and grace when interacting with her kids. I even have a friend that seems to find the beauty in every situation and keep things positive which is always a goal of mine. We are all different. There isn't a better or worse because we are just all a completely different makeup. And our differences are what makes us good for each other and bring our own light to the world. 

I want to give this same grace and understanding to kids. They don't need our judgment or pushing. I hope that someday even these subtle warnings will not be necessary.

I'm grateful for my daughter and the things she does well. I'm grateful for the areas she struggles that allow me space to grow myself as I try to help her learn. I'm grateful for all my mom friends that allow me to talk about my daughter and share their own stories as well so we can celebrate and brainstorm together. I'm grateful to know that the moms I cannot seem to connect with have mom friends of their own as they navigate their own journey. I'm grateful for each child and the special set or strengths and light they bring to this world. I'm grateful to be excited to see what traits my newest addition will hold and how she will help me grow in motherhood. 

When do you find comparisons sneaking into your thoughts? How do you reframe those thoughts and quiet the external chatter? 

May today remind us that our differences are our strengths. May we find better ways as a society to honor those differences and leave comparison behind. Have a beautiful day!

Today is National Smile Day. There is nothing so simple and pure that you can give to anyone than a smile. It doesn't require knowing the person well or even at all. It is a gift that anyone can accept and everyone can enjoy.

We never know what is going on in the lives of the people we cross paths with during our day. The person that cuts us off in traffic or honks at us the second the light turns green could be in the middle of a personal crisis. The grouchy person in the checkout lane could have been up all night with their ailing parent. We don't know each person's story but we can give then grace no matter where they are coming from. 

The grace of a simple smile can make a difference. It can let them know there is no judgment coming from us on where they are and their current disposition. It may bring them a little cheer or a little comfort. If their day is going well then it may give it an added boost. But do you know what else a simple smile can do? It can boost our own day.

A smile can keep other people's negative energy from sticking to us. It can keep us in our own positive mindset and loving light. A smile is an act of love both for ourselves and those around us.

I'm grateful for National Smile Day. I'm grateful for the reminder of the power of a smile. I'm grateful to have seen it work on those around me. I'm grateful to have felt its effects myself when I receive a random smile on a rough day. I'm grateful to know that this gift is always within my power and my budget. I'm grateful to also recognize it as a gauge to my own mood and self-care. I'm grateful to strive to see the best in others whether I know their story or not.

How can you find a smile to give to someone in need today? Can you think of a time that someone's smile made a difference in your day? How many smiles can you share in one single day?

May today's challenge be accepted with love. May we share our smiles with all and may we receive some smiles in return. Have a beautiful day!

Teachers are the foundation for the future. They teach the important facts and principals to help us understand and navigate the world. And they inspire us to reach a little higher, go a little farther, and bring our own light to shine in this world.

Many times teachers are found in our schools. They spend all day with our kids, patiently helping them grow. Someone asked me why teachers get summers off; many don't, but my answer is even angels have to take a break to renew their hearts and wings. No one can pour into everyone else's cup all day and all year long without taking time to take care of themselves as well.

There are teachers found outside of schools. Sometimes they are people who inspire like Neil Degrasse Tyson or Mr. Rogers that reach out with important lessons through media. Parents are teachers as they help their children learn and grow. There are teachers everywhere.

Having teachers doesn't stop when we step out of high school or college. Sometimes we change to calling them mentors. Maybe it is someone we seek out for growth or maybe it is someone we stumbled upon that has wisdom to share. Sometimes teachers appear in less positive roles. Even the people who push our buttons are in their own way a teacher for us to explore our own reactions and beliefs. 

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. Anyone who knows a school teacher, has one working with their child, or is still in touch with one that made an imprint on their own youth; reach out and share some thanks today. These teachers give more than facts and lessons. Teachers give their hearts. 

I'm so grateful for all the teachers I had growing up and all the teachers I have in my life today. I'm grateful in particular for my 3rd grade teacher that taught me how much a teacher can love. I'm grateful for the teacher I had my 4th and 6th grade years that got to witness my struggle with growing into who I wanted to be, bullies, and self-esteem and helped em to navigate that a little more gracefully. I'm grateful for my high school physics teacher that was both a mentor and inspiration for my love of science as well as embracing myself and growing into a capable woman. I'm grateful for my anthropology professor who did not believe in me and admittedly wanted me not to succeed because she ignited my fire to prove her wrong and her praise and apology at the end of the year meant that much more knowing where we started. I'm grateful for my mom who teaches me so much every day but who also taught me important lessons about standing up for myself when people try to put a limit on what I am capable of achieving. I'm grateful to have her as my advocate, teacher, friend, and mom. I'm grateful for all my friends that became teachers and all the beautiful work they do. I'm grateful for all the teachers out there who do their best to raise the next generation. And I'm so grateful for my daughter's teachers as we navigate our first year of "preschool". They have taught her and me so much about this transition and how to grow gracefully through the bumps.

Which teachers made the biggest impact on your life? What type of teacher do you try to be for the young people around you? How can you leave a positive mark on future generations?

May today inspire us to share our best lessons. May we find gratitude for all the teachers we have had and actively seek teachers and mentors at every age and stage. Have a beautiful day!

April is Autism Awareness Month. In the past I have written write at the beginning of the month about what this means to me and how much respect I hold for the people living with and assisting those with Autism. I was happy to see lots of "Light it Blue" and Puzzle Pieces at the beginning of the month floating around on Facebook and other media. Now it seems everyone is back to their routines and usual posts.

Today is still part of Autism Awareness Month. If you haven't yet, I ask you to please take some time to educate yourself on the large spectrum that is "Autism" as well as what you can do to help local families. There are special programs for law enforcement and community service personnel on how to assist if a special needs person is lost or needing help. There are resources online about fund raisers and even just educating yourself on the struggles they (and their families) can go through can help increase compassionate responses. 

I worked for many years with preschoolers with Autism and other communication delays and I can assure you they taught me as much if not more than I taught them. Hearing words come out of a little one's mouth who has struggled to express themselves is one of the best feelings in the world. And now as a parent I cannot even imagine the challenge of witnessing your child struggle with this twenty-four hours a day and all the control it takes in the roughest moments.

The last few days I have been trying to create a visual schedule for my toddler for some transitions that she has been struggling. Given my background my mind immediately went to PECS (picture exchange communication system) icons that we used for schedules in the school district. I like them because they are basic and convey the activity fairly well. And in my naïveté I thought surely there must be a website that allows parents access to these icons to help their lives go a little smoother. Instead what I found was lots of websites offering pictures but in a jumble and hard to pick out specific ones without having to buy a program. It was frustrating. But it also brought me back to the big picture.

I thought back to all the parents that I met over the years working with their beautiful children. I thought about all the struggles they already had going on and here was one more. Now during my time at the school we would provide pictures for parents that matched ours at school, when asked, because consistency is huge. But it had not occurred to me that they would not have access to their own. I think of the last two and a half years I have had and the struggles I have faced as a new parent and I realize how blessed I am in those.

I'm grateful for all the amazing parents out there raising their kids through a variety of challenges. I'm grateful for every parent that looks lovingly at their child and does their best for that child no matter how that may look in the moment. I'm grateful for parents and families of children with Autism that truly know what it means to be a champion and put your child first. I'm grateful for every child shining their unique light. I'm grateful to be blessed with a daughter that can speak her mind even if it is not what I want to hear because I know that there are parents that would do anything to hear a single word. I'm grateful for my experiences working with kids with Autism and communication delays and their amazing parents. I'm grateful for one minor frustration in my life bringing me back to the big picture, my bounty of blessings, and awareness of a need that can be fulfilled.

Have you had the privilege of loving someone with Autism? Have you educated yourself on how you can provide support even if it is just a comforting nod to the parent in the store? Have you counted your blessings today?

May today remind us that we each have our struggles but there is always someone going through harder. May we join together in love and kick judgment to the curb. May we find ways to support the people in our lives and our communities. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend provided a beautiful renewal for me. It wasn't that I caught up on sleep or anything like that. It was the reconnection of communication. 

Being a stay-at-home mom during the day with a two-year old provides LOTS of chatter but not a whole lot of deep conversation. I love the chats I get to have with my daughter and the way my mind gets to search for answers to the endless barrage of "why?". I love the innocent and the whole hearted sentiment she expresses and the hilarious commentary and conclusions she makes about what she sees. But it is definitely not the same as talking with another adult.

In the evening and weekend I go to work. As a massage therapist there is very little conversation. I have a couple clients that chat but the overwhelming majority are there to unwind quietly. The quick conversation before and after the massage is about what we are working on and possibly a couple fluffy topics like the weather. 

This all added to my going to bed earlier from the exhaustion of being pregnant has meant very little time to call friends or connect in conversation with my husband. But this weekend helped renew all those connections.

Friday I got the pleasure of reconnecting with some of my best girlfriends at a playdate for my daughter. Just this simple connection and the ability to share what was on my mind and hear their advice and support made all the difference in my anxiety and stress level. Saturday I was blessed with time with my mom and sister-in-law as we got pedicures for my mom's birthday. Just getting to hear what was going on in everyone's life made me feel connected again. And yesterday my husband and I not only got to take the afternoon to explore a new park and trail with my daughter but also stayed up late just talking. Unlike usual there was no agenda, budget, or issues to discuss that was keeping me up late. We simply chatted about ideas on different topics, letting the conversation flow like we did before kids. It is this connection that truly makes my heart blossom. 

All this budding conversation combined with the beautiful Spring weather has me back on my feet this week. Yes, I may be a bit tired from staying up too late last night but my mental health is flourishing and that makes all the difference. And sitting here with the windows open I can hear all the morning bird songs coming from all sides of the house. It is as if they too can feel the song of my refreshed soul and are celebrating.

I'm so grateful for the connection communication brings. I'm grateful for such great friends. I'm grateful for an amazing family. I'm grateful to be able to say I truly enjoy spending time with my family and to consider them friends as well. I'm grateful for my husband and the awesome conversations we have together. I'm grateful for our differences in ideas that help me see another perspective and open my mind even when I respectfully disagree. And I'm grateful for how stimulating I find these conversations even when we do agree. I'm grateful for the beautiful weather and ability to open the house and let the nature sounds and smells drift in. I'm grateful for the beautiful and amazing way my daughter's mind works and to get to see things from her fresh perspective. I'm so grateful for her amazing intelligence and to take the time to answer her why's as best and patiently as I can to help further her beautiful knowledge and inquisitiveness.

What conversations mean the most to you? What connections in your life help you feel renewed? What are you celebrating today in gratitude?

May today allow us to connect in the way that best serves our heart. May we take the time to speak but also to listen. And may we cherish the relationships that bring us balance. Have a beautiful day! 

Today is Valentine's Day! The advertisements would have us believe that Valentine's Day is about fresh cut roses, chocolates, and maybe going out to a fancy dinner. In fact, if media is to believed it is only a holiday for lovers. I would disagree.

In college most of my best Valentine's celebrations were out with my girlfriends. We would watch a movie, have some icecream, and just celebrate how ever we felt like it. And there were a couple years as a single adult that I took myself out to dinner, just me, and followed it with a self-care night. There is a misconception that it is sad or hard to eat alone. Really, in my experience, the only difficult part was the big deal made by one waiter that I was alone which resulted in a free dessert. 

Now that I am married I'm grateful that my husband feels similar to me about how to celebrate. I don't need a box of chocolates. Honestly, most the fillings I wouldn't even like. I don't need roses that will die in a couple days. I don't need gifts because to me LOVE is the gift we are celebrating and we already have it. It isn't in an object to be given.

For me, the perfect celebration is getting away from the stove and oven, going out to the grill and pretending it is Springtime already. I want a good steak and some veggies grilled up like it's warm out so I can pretend it isn't going to snow again tomorrow. Valentine's Day, for me, is about sitting down to a meal with my love because most the week we work opposite shifts and don't get to actually eat together. 

I'm grateful for the beautiful temperatures yesterday. I'm grateful the snow will hold off for us to cook our steaks tonight. I'm grateful for my husband's help in creating the fantasy of it being Spring. I'm grateful to choose my own way to celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm grateful for all the years celebrated with my girlfriends. I'm grateful for the years celebrating myself, by myself. I'm grateful for the perspective and strength it gave me to see the silly misconceptions and judgments that were the opposite of what I was feeling. But I was grateful for that free dessert. I'm grateful to have another year with my love to celebrate together. I'm grateful for our beautiful daughter and to have another one on the way as we grow our family. I'm grateful to start teaching them early on that celebrations don't have to follow commercialism, unless that truly pleases you. Most of all I'm grateful to celebrate together.

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Which type of love will you choose to honor this year? 

May we all find a love to celebrate and cherish today. May we remember to celebrate a love for ourselves always. And may we let those we love know how special they are today and every day. Have a beautiful day!