So the topic of extracurriculars has been on my mind, especially with spring activities starting to ramp up. And it reminded me that I wanted to share a simple tactic to deal with extracurricular choices. This took me a while to learn and the payoff has been extraordinary so I wanted to serve it up directly to you so you can go forth and benefit! Click the player below to learn how to let go of extracurricular craziness while teaching your kids a life skill.
Given my work on Responsibility.org’s #TalkEarly program (which is all about creating a lifetime of conversations with kids) I think even more than usual about personal responsibility -- not just through the lens of alcohol awareness and education, but in all aspects of life. April is Alcohol Awareness Month and this April also marks Responsibility.org’s 25th anniversary and the launch of their Responsibility Starts With Me campaign.
Given that I’m a freelancer, one thing I’ve been trying to get better at is doing quarterly check-ins on my finances. And it occurred to me that it would be good to do something similar with my 2016 intentions given that it’s so easy to make resolutions or set intentions and then forget about them! To get up to speed with mine, you can read my original intentions post; below is a check-in, which, as you can see, I've had mixed results! If you feel compelled to share what you’re working on I would love to hear it!
I know it may sound sort of ridiculous (impossible?) that a simple bento box can effectively make me less grumpy and resentful about lunch making, but it's totally true -- 6 months in and I'm still less grumpy and resentful! Click play below to hear about how EasyLunchboxes have helped me streamline the lunch making process. And if you need further help reducing the lunch making grumps, tune into this podcast episode on school lunch solutions!
Though I tend to be pragmatic and matter of fact about milestones, I've been finding myself pretty emotional about Violet turning five. Compared to our experience with Laurel (and yes, I realize first-borns are a totally different ball of wax), it's been a completely different ride parenting Violet. And while there have been plenty of bumpy patches, she has taught me so much. Today I wanted to write Violet a letter. Happy birthday, sweet girl. Keep shining on in your fiery way.
Yesterday, thanks to the fine folks at Babble, I was honored to be part of a White House conversation regarding the health of U.S. children. As many of you know, I'm passionate about the various dimensions of healthy living -- nutrition, fitness, mental health -- and it was amazing to hear from some seriously rock star women (from USDA, HHS, and more) about all that has been accomplished through Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! program.
Over the last few years I have devoted a lot of time and brain energy to figuring out how to improve my relationships and communication style. Hit play on this video to hear about one of my favorite small tweaks for improving your relationship with your partner or spouse. I had to learn it the hard way but it was worth it! And if you're in need of further relationship inspiration, check out Episode 23 (Prioriting Your Partner/Spouse) of the Edit Your Life show!
Compromise in relationships can be hard -- really hard -- whether you tend to be in the position of wanting to win all the battles or the position of rolling over. In Episode 28 of Edit Your Life, I interview my therapist husband Jonathan about how to identify what kind of compromiser you are, the importance of being honest and articulating what you want (both to yourself and to your partner), negotiation tactics, and why it’s actually powerful to be vulnerable and ask for help.