Sheri Little, M.A. Parent Coach & Community Educator

03/30/2020

9 mental health activities to do with your children

03/18/2020

As a teacher, I think we as parents should be taking it easy. It’s a stressful time for everybody and kids learn from everyday experiences. Now is a great time to build up our kids’ confidence, creativity, and resilience. And that doesn’t necessarily require copious amounts of worksheets.

03/17/2020

A great comic for kids to explain the Corona Virus and our response to it as a community.

The coronavirus situation explained to kids. This is a free printable and you can download it here: http://elisegravel.com/en/blog/coronavirus-free-printable-comic-for-kids/

03/17/2020

Oh, this is great!

Screentime is going to happen, even when parents try to minimize it. Social emotional learning can happen when parents and kids watch and discuss together, though! If you want to share this with parents, you can download it from my google drive here: http://bit.ly/screentimeSEL

03/17/2020

08/02/2018

This is so, so important. The physiological impact of trauma experienced in utero and as infants, when we often think babies can’t form memories) can modify the genes of the child.

This research found markers left 10 years after trauma that modify gene expression!

Next time you think a child should “act right” or “do what they know they should do” consider how their physical appearance and even personality maybe differ from the genetic expressions of past trauma happening inside their body.

The researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison wanted to study the impact of childhood stress on genetic chemistry.

07/09/2018

07/06/2018

And that’s the difference.

07/05/2018

An excellent reminder for all of us.

07/05/2018

❤️

02/07/2018

Can I let you in on a little secret? I see you. I see you moms, dads, teachers, caregivers. I see you snapping up coats, cutting out 67 paper hearts, building Lego creations, wiping up sticky juice, fixing that special grilled cheese sandwich and brushing your kid's hair exactly how he likes it.

All these seemingly little things that we do each day for our kids can seem tedious. We often just wish they could do all these things for themselves. Perhaps we rush learning a new skill before they are ready then frustration builds for us and our kids. I get it. I've been there!

The little blessings you are pouring out over the kids in your life matter. They might not always thank you. They might actually grumble about them sometimes. That's okay! They will remember that you were there for them. That you took the time to care. That these little things are acts of love. One day, they will not need you to cut the crusts off their sandwiches, tie their shoes or braid their hair. Relish the little things, friends. Breathe deep while you're doing them and enjoy the process.

What is one little thing you do show love? 👇

01/08/2018

Some might call it coddling.

Some might call it a disservice.

Some might argue that since my eleven-year-old child is capable of setting an alarm to wake up for school, she should.

I would not argue with them.

I would ensure she knows how to set and use an alarm clock, and then I would continue waking her up until she says she’d like to use her alarm clock.

Her older sister has been using an alarm clock since she was ten. In fact, two years ago when I was having early-morning surgery, my then 12-year-old daughter said she was capable of waking up herself and her little sister and getting them off to school.

It did not surprise me that things went smoothly that morning. Little did I know my older daughter would forever tease me about the instruction list I left for her, namely the first item being: “Wake your sister at 6:35 GENTLY.”

GENTLY was in all caps, emphasizing its significance.

A soft hand on the shoulder has always worked wonders for my daughter who is not a morning person.

Whispering what day it is and one exciting thing to come helps get her off on a better foot.

Kissing the cheek of my highly sensitive girl rather than flipping on the lights or blaring music sets a better tone that lasts the whole day.

This approach goes against my task-efficient, time-oriented, Type A personality. And I bet there was a time in my life when I wondered how long this was going to last.

But if there was, I don’t remember.

In fact, learning the importance of being GENTLE with my child has helped me be GENTLE with myself.

I notice that when I am under a lot of stress with unknown variables and big expectations, my mind begins to race as soon as I wake up. That is when I gently remind myself what day it is … that things will be better in a couple days or a couple weeks … and one thing I have to look forward to.

I learned to be gentle with myself in the morning by being gentle with my child.

She taught me the significance of loving myself before my feet hit the floor.

She taught me the significance of tending to my soul before tackling the to-do list.

She taught me to love myself through difficult periods of life by loving myself through the initial moments of every day.

Being gentle with myself in the morning sets a softer tone that extends throughout my day …

To rest when I’m tired, even if it’s just two minutes

To cry when I’m sad

To say, “I love you,” when my heart feels it

To say, “I’m scared,” when fear grips me

To shrug off little inconveniences – they’re not worth getting upset over

To drink more water; absorb less stress

To stop and breathe often

To look up in the sky and be thankful

This loving practice doesn’t eliminate the stresses and strains of everyday life, but it helps me respond to them better.

“Gently,” I say to myself, just as I speak to my child’s soul before I expect her to hit the ground running.

Some might call it spoiling.

Some might call it unnecessary.

I call it what works.

I call it what heals.

I call it what strengthens, renews, and restores.

I call it what prepares us to handle whatever lies ahead.

Perhaps my child will learn to love herself through difficult periods of life by the way I love her through the difficult mornings of every day.

Time will tell.

But for now, I will remember the significance of loving ourselves – and each other –before our feet hit the floor.

© Rachel Macy Stafford 2018

Dear friends, I realize this practice may not be feasible or appropriate for some—there are other times of day and other ways we can offer gentleness to our beloveds and ourselves. This is simply an example of what works for my family. Thank you for sharing your opinions, experiences, and thoughts in loving and respectful ways. We can learn so much from each other through kind dialogue. Thank you for being part of The Hands Free Revolution.

Rachel’s bestselling books:

HANDS FREE MAMA - http://amzn.to/1gDzKRO
HANDS FREE LIFE - http://amzn.to/1xy8rGU
ONLY LOVE TODAY - http://amzn.to/2auBHH

01/05/2018

I know this is true for my kids - let’s not just write off their generation because they have greater access to technology. They still want to play!

Technology integration doesn't mean that you need to replace everything with tech. There's something magical about being able to manipulate physical objects!

01/02/2018

"Put on your own oxygen mask first."

12/31/2017

"It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless." L.R.Knost


'The Gentle Parent' http://t.co/T8goym3P6Z

📷 .gentleman.wolf
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Fighting a rare, incurable cancer, but I'm still here!💞 L.R.