Be the Person You are not!

OK! You are looking over your shoulder and thinking thoughts about that parent near the monkey bars. Filling your head with negative energy, you either criticize yourself or the parenting style being displayed.

We all have moments in which we think we shine as parents and others don’t; we also get really embarrassed by things we say to our kids or the way we act around them.

Take perspective!

My challenge for you this week is to try out these two scenarios:

1) For one whole day act differently than you do on most days. If you are a sloppy parent that does not do dishes and leaves laundry piled around the house then clean-up and be orderly. If you are super neat and put together then go out in your sweat pants, don’t bother with a home cooked meal and don’t clean the toilet. You get the idea…

2) On another day try being the super involved parent; play Legos all day, pretend to drink tea and flutter like a fairy. If you are already that parent, drag your child to the nearest coffee shop, get a coffee, go shopping and complete your to-do list.

Remember to reflect after each exercise and see what the positive outcomes are of acting differently than you normally do and how it feels to get back to your old self.

Become apparent!

Food for thought:
How do you think your child feels when you ask them to act differently than they are?
What do your children learn when they see you talking positively or negatively about others?
Can your child learn from you stepping out of your ‘regular’ self?

We would love to work with you one on one. Please email us with any questions heidiahrens@me.com

Year of Love – 2013

 Make it a good year!  A year of…

 It is up to you to fill in the blank.

On New Year’s Day I attended a wonderful workshop at True Nature it was a time to access yourself and invite in the new year.  Rod Striker led us through a guided meditation, while Deva  encouraged us to open up to a year of love.

 In coaching, like in spiritual practice, or when a new year comes we are often asked to create an intention. Often these are so specific they are so easy to break, or unrealistic. ( No more ice cream or become a millionaire by fall).

Let your intentions transform your outward and inward self

 When we look at our family life or our parenting style we can either break down our relationships to action and decision making, or we can look at the overall feeling of our presence around the ones we love: simple, loving, kind, accepting, conscious, and mindful.  At times we realize that sometimes the essence of our parenting is not based in creativity – it can come from deep roots of fear, pain, uncertainty, frustration, or depression.

 This year don’t dwell on the details or on the source of your family’s ills; rather, open yourself up to pure joyful discovering by inviting a year of … into your life!

Here are a few ideas, but I am sure you can come up with your own:

• A year of joy
• A year of curiosity
• A year of stillness
• A year of contemplation
• A year of adventure
• A beautiful year
• A creative year
• A year of happiness
• A year of silence
• A year of playfulness
• A year of simplicity
• A conscious year

 Please let me know what you come up with.  Have a well-thy 2013!

 Heidi Ahrens

Becoming a Parent!

 Please schedule your first 30 minute free consultation today! heidiahrens@me.com

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Laundry:

We have many tasks to accomplish as parents.   Some are sweet and come with a lot of internal and external gratifications. Others are less gratifying and we often think the task might be best avoided.

 For me, some tasks that I’d like to avoid include washing toilets, wiping bums, and folding and putting away laundry.

Recently, I came up with an amazing trick in making sure these mundane family life tasks become something of a gift.

Even miles away a friend can help you with laundry

This summer we stayed at a friend’s house for two weeks. Our family of four shared a two bedroom apartment with another family of four.  During those two weeks we constantly did laundry. To be mindful of the environment we hung the wet clothing on a outside cloth line. This enabled my friend and I to spend some great time chatting as we hung the clothing as well as later when we took it down.

 Now, I am 2,000 miles away from this friend but every time I do the laundry I think of her by my side. I hang a lot of my laundry out on a line or cloth rack dryer, and now doing the laundry is an enjoyable part of my week. I find peace in taking the extra step to be environmentally conscious, and I think of my friend faraway doing the exact same thing.

I encourage you to think of a task you don’t like so much and that brings you stress. Now think of a way this task can make you feel more connected to another parent or how that task can be a gift for someone else. I am sure you will slowly find peace in that action.

 Becoming a Parent! Heidi Ahrens

Please schedule your first 30 minute free consultation today! heidiahrens@me.com

Don’t forget to follow my Blog and Facebook to receive my free mini e-book!

Free 30 Minute Consultation:

Please take a minute to set up an appointment for your first free 30 minute Consultation.

You can contact me at heidiahrens@me.com

In just 30 minutes you will receive concrete ideas on how to address your question.

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Family Rhythms!

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