How will you speak to yourself this year?  Your experiences and the experiences of the people you love is GREATLY influenced by the words YOU CHOOSE to use.  You are beautiful, loving, kind, powerful, gracious, brilliant, Divinely and perfectly made...please treat yourself aligned with this knowledge.  I have great hope for your new year and am here to support it being the best yet!

"The best advice for baby care is to sensitively follow the baby, not the experts."  ~ Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201312/ten-things-everyone-should-know-about-babies?goback=%2Eanb_2044139_*2_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1#%21

A must read ~ best content I've seen on the subject of meeting the needs for our new babies in a while.  Pass along to expecting friends please.

I have 5 children and in 2005, the 2nd graduated high school...and the 3rd began kindergarten that fall.  That kindergartner is now a rising freshman.  Because our local school system is implementing a new computer software in 2014, an attempt to have a good start to the school year, they've moved up the registration processes (choosing diploma track and electives) by a few months... so here I sit...sooner than I had thought I might, embracing by releasing the resistance to the coming of a new season.  We selected his classes, signed the forms, turned them in, and there it is...the high school is expecting him.  Fitting actually that it's December that I begin this process...end of year and all.  Processes take time, some more than others, and I've come to know that as a mom, I have to recognize and honor mine in order to reflect the same for the kids.  

There have been the occasions when I've told my children that they can't do some requested activity because I'm not ready...that my decision isn't a reflection of their capabilities...it's me who needs a minute.  It bought me time...not limitless time, but time to make Peace, to release the resistance and embrace their growth...sometimes to facilitate a little more of my own or theirs...most often, both.

So year end reflections come with anticipation of new Life, new seasons...and I release resistance (again).  

The following video is of an elephant mother who gives birth under the watchful eye of a few human beings and on a concrete floor.  (surprise there is an issue)
When she births the baby and the baby isn't breathing, she uses her innate mothering.  I'm deeply impressed and reminded with even greater conviction that we are WIRED with a POWERFUL and BEAUTIFUL innate wisdom that directs our mothering.  I'm hopeful for the mothers who feel disconnected that they will have reminders (maybe this one) that taps into that space and facilitates it's expression.  Our world needs moms who can pull their families through the watchful eyes and concrete aspects of our environment.  Please be reminded.
http://loiter.co/v/elephant-gives-birth-to-a-baby-but-it-doesnt-breat/