Month: June 2025

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Graduation ✨

Dear parents, we embark on an incredible journey of raising our children, filled with excitement and anticipation. From the very beginning, we dive into planning, considering how we want to welcome our newborns into the world. Each step invites us to reflect on the kind of upbringing we envision for our children, aspiring for their childhood to surpass our own experiences.

The joy of creating our family brings forth countless decisions, from choosing the perfect name for our little one to selecting soothing pastel colors for the nursery. Every detail feels significant as we prepare to embrace this precious gift. We dream of crafting an environment filled with warmth, love, and security. With each milestone teething, first words, and those adorable gummy smiles, we create heartwarming memories where every tiny achievement feels monumental.

Fast forward to today, and our babies are growing, each developing their unique personality. We navigate life alongside them through playful toddler years, where innocent joys collide with laughter that fills our homes. Despite the exhaustion, we find relentless joy and pride in witnessing their growth. Though physically demanding, these fleeting moments fill our hearts with profound fulfillment.

As our children transition from preschool to elementary, middle, and high school, we marvel at how swiftly time passes. Each milestone graduation, school play, and sporting event becomes a cherished chapter in our family’s story. Proudly standing at high school graduations, we reflect on the years gone by, asking ourselves how we arrived at these moments so quickly. This bittersweet realization reminds us that our experiences, joyful and challenging, have shaped our children into the remarkable individuals they are becoming.

In our reflections, we recognize that the tiny baby who once filled our hearts is now ready to explore the world as their true self. This transformation encourages introspection; we may question or find peace in our choices, regardless of the outcomes. What remains clear is our unwavering support, love, and commitment to ensuring a bright future for them.

As we celebrate graduation, we must pause to grant ourselves grace. We acknowledge that we have accomplished something extraordinary: nurturing a life that embodies our family’s values and dreams. Although the parenthood journey has twists and turns, the bonds we form evolve beautifully, enriched by shared experiences and mutual growth. This journey is not just about our children; it’s also about us, the parents, navigating the beautiful chaos while cherishing the memories we create along the way.

Before our children were born, we questioned our ability to be good enough as parents and how to raise another human without an instruction manual. Yet here we stand, on the verge of their newfound independence, proud to know we have equipped them with the tools to navigate life’s complexities. We embrace the evolving nature of our relationship, excited for the future while treasuring every memory of those precious early years when we welcomed them into our lives.

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Notes to Self ✨

Life is undeniably beautiful yet complex, weaving a tapestry of experiences, emotions, and perceptions that can shift from moment to moment. Imagine what it’s like for someone who awakens each day feeling profoundly different from who they were before. This feeling isn’t just a fleeting mood; it may signify a deep disconnection from their sense of self that can last days, weeks, or even longer. This confusion can lead to a journey filled with overwhelming bewilderment as they grapple with the question: Why do I feel this way?

In navigating their mornings, they might find themselves drawn into the depths of the internet, searching for answers to explain their symptoms or emotions. Along the way, they may discover articles, forums, and testimonials that resonate with their experiences, potentially leading them deeper into a rabbit hole of self-diagnosis and speculation. They may seek relief from persistent fatigue that feels like an invisible weight, making rest seem nearly impossible. Despite their best efforts to sleep, the relentless noise in their minds interrupts any chance at peace, intensifying their exhaustion.

To those observing from the outside, the struggles faced by this individual might seem abstract or trivial. Comments like “Just get over it” or “You need to pull yourself together” can unintentionally minimize a battle that often remains invisible. They fail to see that this person is wrestling with a reality that can feel unbearably heavy, much like trudging through a dense fog that obscures every path forward. This journey can feel isolating, as the individual may believe that their inability to cope is a shameful burden they cannot share.

It is essential to recognize that seeking help or reaching out to a trusted loved one to express feelings of confusion and disconnection is a display of courage, not weakness. Facing the internal struggle of self-acceptance can be daunting, but navigating this emotional maze together can lighten the burden of despair. Many individuals, caught in the whirlwind of significant and minor stressors, find themselves grappling with anxiety in a landscape filled with uncertainty.

We must become advocates for well-being, understanding that we all deserve support, self-care, and compassion during difficult times. The journey of self-preservation is profoundly significant, affirming our worthiness of healing and understanding. By committing to this journey, we acknowledge our difficulties as a testament to our strength. We are not alone; individuals are in our lives for a reason, ready to offer advocacy, a shoulder to lean on, or a comforting hug.

There is no curse attached to these feelings; instead, countless solutions await discovery answers that can guide us back to ourselves if we confront the root of our issues. Choosing to face these challenges with determination can lead us to a brighter tomorrow, where the weight of the world feels lighter and the beauty of life shines through with clarity and brilliance.

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Thankful ✨

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Attachment ✨

As kids, we form emotional blueprints based on how our caregivers respond to us. If that connection was inconsistent, sometimes loving, sometimes distant, we might grow up with what’s known as an Anxious Attachment Style. I know this one well. It’s that constant tug-of-war between craving closeness and fearing it might disappear the moment we get comfortable. You might recognize it in the overthinking, the “Did I say something wrong?” spirals or the feeling that you care too much too fast.

Living with anxious attachment doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means you’re human, shaped by early experiences that taught you love felt uncertain. But the good news is this: you can relearn what secure love feels like. Healing takes time, but it starts with small, intentional steps.

Here are a few informed tools:

Inner child work: This means tuning into the younger version of you who felt unseen or unsure. Ask yourself: What did I need to hear back then? Give that reassurance to yourself now.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Track anxious thoughts that show up in relationships (“They haven’t texted back… maybe they’re mad at me”) and gently challenge them. What’s the evidence? What else could be true?

Mindful self-compassion: Instead of criticizing yourself for being “too needy,” try offering compassion. A simple phrase like, “It makes sense I feel this way given my past,” can create powerful emotional relief.

Secure base visualization: Picture someone who makes you feel safe and grounded. When anxiety flares, close your eyes and visualize that person’s warmth and stability. This can calm your nervous system.

Most importantly, talk about it with a therapist, with your partner, or in a journal. Open communication is hard but healing. Let others know what you’re working through, not so they can fix it, but so they can walk with you through it.

Over time, I’ve learned that the goal isn’t to become completely “secure” overnight. It’s about learning to recognize our patterns, give ourselves grace, and create new experiences that slowly teach our nervous system it’s safe to trust. When you start showing up for yourself with the love and steadiness you once needed from others, you build the kind of bond that changes everything from the inside out.

Myers, D. G., Abell, J., & Sani, F. (2021). Social psychology (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

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The Plan ✨