Imagine a world where strengths shine, play fuels learning, and parents are trusted as experts. Let's build this world together!
Dear Charlie (a letter to my fur baby): Dreams of the world I want to create
Dear Charlie (a letter to my fur baby: dreams of the world I want to create),
I want you to know how much I love you. I want my words and especially my actions to make you feel safe. I am here to help you to feel safe and loved so that you can think more clearly, learn more effectively, and generally have more FUN.
Strategies for managing stress part 1: completing stress cycles
Stress. We’ve all got it. We sometimes prefer to ignore it. Our bodies need a way to manage it so that it doesn’t make us sick—either physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Lately I’ve been working with my coaching clients on the concept of completing stress cycles. What that means is that we need to tell our bodies that the stress is done.
Reading our baby's body language to know what they need (the 6 states of infant consciousness)
What to expect at a Gottman Bringing Baby Home class at Little Elf Family Services.
Hey there, friend! Welcome to an exciting journey where we'll delve into enriching your relationship and embracing the incredible adventure of parenthood. The Gottman Bringing Baby Home Program is your golden ticket to creating a strong and loving foundation for your family. In this heart-to-heart chat, we're going to explore where this program came from, its fantastic benefits, and what you can expect as you embark on this life-changing adventure.
What to expect at a Gottman 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work class @ Little Elf Family Services
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is a creation of none other than the brilliant minds at the Gottman Institute. At Little Elf Family Services, we affectionately refer to them as the "crazy researcher people" who have spent nearly five decades delving into the intricacies of marriage and parenting. Imagine all the wisdom they've accumulated in that time! Our mission is to bring their remarkable discoveries to you and tailor them to your unique needs.
Secrets to a long-lasting marriage
Did you know that one of the best ways to ensure that your marriage will last is to start TODAY to identify yourself as a couple who learns relationship tools? Don’t wait until there is a problem! Why is this so important?
According to research, the average couple waits 6 years before they seek help in their relationship. Yet half of all marriages that end do so in the first 7 years (https://www.gottman.com/about/research/couples/).
Story Time: Cracking the code to lasting love. A reading of A Day So Gray by Marie Lamba
Tricks for infant sleep that no one tells you
Lack of sleep has such a rollover effect on other areas of our relationships and our parenting. New parents often find that lack of sleep is the most difficult part of parenting. Nerves get frayed and patience gets short with ourselves, our partners, and our children. Especially in the middle of the night we end up saying things that we never thought we would say to each other. But my goal is for your relationships to fill you with happiness and stay that way for the long haul? So what can we do?
I asked ChatGPT to tell me about the 4 divorce predictors in BuzzFeed style, and here's what it said...
Are you curious about the secret signals that could be sabotaging your relationship? Well, get ready to ride the wild emotional rollercoaster known as the Gottman 4 Horsemen! 😱🎢
1️⃣ The Criticizer - "The Roaring Stallion" 🐴 Watch out for this fiery horse! The Criticizer is all about nitpicking every little thing your partner does. From their fashion choices to the way they slurp their soup, nothing is off-limits. It's like they have a Ph.D. in finding faults! 🤷♀️👀
My husband calls me the "marriage apocalypse warrior." Find out why!
This Mom's Journey to Parenting Success Will Inspire You
When you have a baby, there’s a lot that may surprise you. In this conversation Stephanie opens up about her transformation after seeking help and guidance for her new role as a parent. In this interview, Stephanie shares her challenges, frustrations, and the wins that she achieved through coaching and Gottman Bringing Baby Home classes at Little Elf Family Services.
Did you know that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are more common than gestational diabetes—yet we screen for them less often?
When you become a parent, you want to feel calm and confident, but that’s often harder than you expect. Obstacles can get in the way, and unprepared parents may feel overwhelmed. While your moods may fluctuate, your overall happiness level is like a muscle: it gets weaker or stronger over time. If you ignore symptoms of depression or anxiety and hope that the problem will go away, you are likely to find yourself feeling more depressed and anxious.
Nesting Parties - The Coolest New Trend in Parenting Preparation
What’s the difference between a baby shower and a nesting party?
A baby shower focuses on the baby. It focuses on STUFF. Some stuff is good and useful — a baby needs a place to sleep, a car seat, some clothes, a few bottles or boppies or burp cloths. But if you end up with too much stuff, you just have to sort it out and manage it and find a way to give it away later.
Boosting Immunity for Babies and Parents (especially useful for exclusively breastfeeding mothers!)
Why have a birth doula?
Why have a birth doula? An interview with Rebeca Martin, birth photography & doula services
What impact do you think that having a birth doula had on you as a mother?
My labor was really hard, and my doula was the thing that got me through.
Iterating our way to awesome!
Sometimes I struggle to describe the challenges of early parenthood because I never want to scare people or make anyone feel like they aren’t enough, or that they won’t be a good enough parent if they don’t do certain things. As a new parent sanity specialist, one of my primary goals is to help each of us as new parents to grow in our growth mindset, being able to ask for help, to make mistakes and learn from them, and to keep learning.
Creating a warm, caring environment for a new baby
As new parents, you hope that life with your baby will be exciting - a fun, new adventure and a chance to get to know a new member of your family. You want to create a warm, nurturing home for your children. You want time and space and support to bond with your baby. You want a peaceful postpartum. You want to instill positive values in your children. And if you have a partner, you want your relationship to be happy and connected. Ultimately, you want to raise a kind, positive human being that contributes to society when they are older.
These challenges that most new parents face will surprise you
Newborn Play
Do you have a newborn baby at home? Sometimes it can be hard to know what to do with a newborn baby when they're actually awake. First off, that can be rare. (Find this video on Placer Birth Connection’s Instagram page).
Some of the first things we're focusing on with babies, of course is learning to eat and sleep.
