Welcome to the first edition of the Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival, hosted by Authentic Parenting and Mudpiemama!
In the month of January, we start afresh, a new year, new ideas. Hence, our participants have looked into the topic of “Birth and New Beginnings”. Take a look at the end of this post to find a list of links to the entries of the other participants.
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I’ve never had New Year’s resolutions before, but this blog carnival got me inspired.
Here was the prompt for this month’s carnival post:
January is the month where we start afresh, take the plunge again and leave the old. What are your new year’s resolutions? Maybe you will be welcoming a new baby (or have done so recently). Share all your insights about birth and starting afresh in this very diverse carnival.
Moss!
Here’s what went through my head:
- I will gladly “take the plunge” and drop some old baggage; I am in need of an attitude adjustment when it comes to my two-year old daughter (as my Tandem Nurturer posts admit).
- I never have had or kept New Year’s resolutions.
- I did just have a baby boy on December 22!
- I just posted the first of a three-part Birth Sunday Surf Series with over 40 links for labor, birth preparation, baby, postpartum and more.
- I need to make some resolutions about my relationship with my daughter that might help me make the change I’m desperate for. Maybe if I tell people I don’t know about it online I’ll work even harder to stay committed and conscious for the long term.
These are some overarching goals I came up with to build some concrete resolutions:
- Overall health and well being come first.
- Be more YES.
- Stay mindful.
Surprise Snow in October
So, here are my first New Year’s resolutions. (Please let them help me be a better mom.)
- Get 15 min outside with my toddler each day — snow, shine, dark, cold. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Oh, and she leads the show.
- Say yes to at least one thing a day, just b/c she wants to even if I have all kinds of reasons (excuses) not to — includes getting moving and getting messy!
- Keep my mouth shut when I feel frustrated or angry (rather than just reacting immediately). Use the silent time to scan my feelings and thoughts, to breathe, to observe my daughter and the situation and consciously make choices in which I cuddle instead of criticize, laugh instead of lecture, and relinquish control to my child instead of retaining power and privilege for myself.
My idea right now is to start with one moment at a time, build my confidence, become mindful of my life, and look at each interaction as a new opportunity. I need my relationship with my daughter to be more consistently joyful. I’m going to try to focus on these three things in the hopes that I can create a more conscious and loving relationship with her.
In general, I hope these help me be a more creative and playful, and positive and present mother.
Warm Rain Walk Treasures
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Visit Authentic Parenting and MudpieMama to find out how you can participate in the next Authentic Parenting Blog Carnival!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
- Becoming Intentional with My Time Valerie at Momma in Progress shares the beginning of her year-long journey toward more intentional living.
- Alirik’s Birth Story: Sweet Surprise Lauren at Hobo Mama tells the sweet surprise unassisted home water birth story of her second child.
- My Rebirth: An Honest Look Darcel at The Mahogany Way talks a little about some of the fear and insecurity she’s felt over the years since starting her parenting journey and her blog.
- Trusting My Body: Ailia’s Birth Story After a very challenging birth with her son, Dionna at Code Name:
Mama was nervous about having another natural birth. But practicing relaxation techniques and birth affirmations proved to be just what she needed to have her perfect, peaceful, unassisted homebirth. - My Homeschool Philosophy Paige a Bay Dust Diaries shares her new year’s resolution about homeschooling.
- Yet Another Resolutions Post... Zen mummy‘s resolutions for a better 2012
- Renewing Green Passions in the New Year Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction talks about renewing a passion for green living in the new year.
- Birthing and New Beginnings… And Better Mothering Sheila at A Living Family shares her first ever New
Year’s resolutions to be a more mindful, compassionate and respectful mother to her two-year old daughter after the
recent birth of her son. - An Open Letter to MTV Regarding 16 and Pregnant Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama delivers a pointed
message to MTV about how they misrepresent birth and parenthood on 16 and Pregnant. - Setting Intentions Megan at The Other Baby Blog shares another way to
ring in the New Year. - Spencer’s Birth Story Momma Jorje shares her family’s story of birthing her son with Down syndrome.
- Looking Forward, Looking Back Erica @ ChildOrganics shares how she is able to look back at the loss of their daughter and yet move forward with her family at the same time.
- Unique unto Itself. Melissa of Vibrant Wanderings has chosen a word for her second child’s birth: awareness.
- The Unassisted Birth of The LIttle Buddha. Laura at Authentic Parenting shares thebirth story of her new baby.
- Birthing and Resolutions: Keeping Good Things in Motion. MudpieMama shares her VBAC story and why she skipped making resolutions in the traditional way.
- The Birth of a New Era by Mandy from Living Peacefully With Children
Posted by Valerie @ on January 27, 2012 at 7:10 am
Ah, I so relate to #3!
Posted by Valerie @ Momma in Progress on January 27, 2012 at 7:14 am
Not really sure why it posted that last comment before I even got my name typed, let alone finished a thought! Anyway, yes . . . #3 . . . sometimes I feel like I just need to stop talking so much so quickly and chill out and listen/regroup. Every day I think I’m going to be better at this, and every day I end up having one (or ten) of those moments when I don’t. Sigh.
Posted by alivingfamily on January 27, 2012 at 9:25 am
Valerie, YES! #3 is so helpful but so hard to do! It’s all a work in progress. That’s why I’m making it a resolution so that I can (hopefully) start to make this more automatic. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
sheila
Posted by Setting New Year’s Intentions | the other baby blog on January 27, 2012 at 11:51 am
[...] Birthing and New Beginnings… And Better Mothering Sheila at A Living Family shares her first ever New Year’s resolutions to be a more mindful, compassionate and respectful mother to her two-year old daughter after the recent birth of her son. [...]
Posted by Helen @ zen mummy on January 27, 2012 at 11:52 am
Hi, fellow carnival-er here, and fellow Tandem Nurturer too. I am going to go catch up on your posts about that as I’ve found it tricky at times, and I’ve felt like the only person in the whole world who is doing it (even though I know I’m not).
‘I need to make some resolutions about my relationship with my daughter that might help me make the change I’m desperate for. Maybe if I tell people I don’t know about it online I’ll work even harder to stay committed and conscious for the long term.’ This struck a MAJOR chord with me ~ in fact I started the zen mummy blog and my journey into mindful mothering for the very same reason ad with the very same motives. Your goals and resolutions are things I’ve been trying to work on too ~ sometimes it’s so much easier to just stay at home because getting out with two little ones is a major feat, and I say ‘no’ & get snappy far more often than I should do.
I’m so glad the carnival introduced me to your blog
Posted by Renewing Green Passions in the New Year | Monkey Butt Junction on January 27, 2012 at 1:41 pm
[...] Birthing and New Beginnings… And Better Mothering Sheila at A Living Family shares her first ever New Year’s resolutions to be a more mindful, compassionate and respectful mother to her two-year old daughter after the recent birth of her son. [...]
Posted by Birthing and Resolutions: Keeping Good Things in Motion « MudpieMama on January 27, 2012 at 2:10 pm
[...] Birthing and New Beginnings… And Better Mothering Sheila at A Living Family shares her first ever New Year’s resolutions to be a more mindful, compassionate and respectful mother to her two-year old daughter after the recent birth of her son. [...]
Posted by Carnival: Birthing and New Beginnings…and Better Mothering « alivingfamily on January 27, 2012 at 5:23 pm
[...] Posted January 27, 2012 by alivingfamily in attachment parenting, better mom, goals, motherhood, mothering, natural parenting, parenting, Tandem Nurturer, Uncategorized. Tagged: attachment parenting, better mom, goals, motherhood, mothering, natural parenting, parenting, Tandem Nurturer. 7 Comments [...]
Posted by Unique Unto Itself on January 27, 2012 at 5:57 pm
[...] Birthing and New Beginnings… And Better Mothering Sheila at A Living Family shares her first ever New Year’s resolutions to be a more mindful, compassionate and respectful mother to her two-year old daughter after the recent birth of her son. [...]
Posted by Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama on January 28, 2012 at 12:49 am
Visiting from the carnival! I love your honestly and how open you are to reflecting on those things that you wish to change. We all do the best that we can and the mere fact that you have created this great list speaks volumes about who you are as a mother! I’ll look forward to hearing more about your progress!
Posted by alivingfamily on January 28, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Hi Helen and Jennifer!
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts. I am trying to be honest and open, so I’m grateful for the encouragement. Sometimes reading about other blogger mamas it seems like everyone has it together. I have been working to put myself out there more, missteps and all. I am growing and changing. That is one of the blessings of motherhood. ~sheila