Four Years.

"He was my future husband, of that I was scarily certain, although I knew nothing more about him than that. It would become my repeated resolution to keep it that way. To know nearly nothing of him, and to expect nothing, for the long life of our marriage.

When we think we know someone, you see, we are already halfway to disappointment, and no one needs a head start on that.

This is not how we have learned to choose our partners, is it? This is not how we greet people, is it? With an open mind? With an eager hand? Like an unopened gift? Not when we make a life's work out of finding and keeping the perfect mate, the ideal match for our economic aspirations, political views, religious preference, height, weight, taste in coffee, and wardrobe sensibility - all ways we foolishly seek in another mere validation for ourselves. When we believe we know what's good for us, what's right, and what we're looking for - and believe me, we all do - we condemn all our current relationships and doom the ones to come."

                   - from Hand Wash Cold by Karen Maezen Miller 

Our Wedding Ceremony: Marriage Address

 

 

Continuing on with sharing our Wedding Ceremony with you, here is one of my favorite parts of The Song of Solomon.

 

Our Officiant (my Mother) read this before delivering her Marriage Address.



Set me as a seal upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm;

for love is strong as death,

jealousy is cruel as the grave.

It flashes are flashes of fire,

a most vehement flame.

Many waters cannot quench love,

neither can floods drown it.

 

(Song 8:6-7 RSV)

Our Wedding Ceremony: Gathering Words

 

 

I recently stumbled across a program from our "Bollywood Farm Wedding." And, I realized that I had never actually written about how I created our Wedding Ceremony, which is a shame because it was what I put most of my energy into.

Let me tell you, it's hard to find an "Inter-faith Jain Wedding Ceremony" floating around the Internet. Or even an "Indian Inter-Faith Wedding Ceremony." I looked and looked and looked.

I wanted to use some Jain Prayers and pay homage to my Husband's Indian heritage without being sacrilegious. He didn't want to be married by a Priest and have a traditional Jain Ceremony.

If we weren't going to be married by a Jain Priest, I thought it would be poignant to be married by our Mothers. But, his is very shy, so my Mama was the sole Officiant. My parents were married by a relative and my Grand-parents were married by my Great-great-grandfather. So, it seemed right.

Our Ceremony began when my Husband processed out with 20 or so of his friends and cousins in an "Informal Baraat".

Then, his Brother and Father welcomed everyone. His Mother and an Auntie said the Navakar Mantra. And, then there was the Bridal Procession (more on that later).

My Mother then spoke these Gathering Words.

I love this quote...


"Each of us was brought into the world without any decision of his own. Each of us was stamped with the condition of mortality from the moment of conception. And so, of the three most significant events in our lives, birth, marriage, and death, it is only marriage that we have the full power of personal decision."

                                     -Robert Senghas

Our Anniversary Getaway in Frederick, MD

 

 

 

 

Working out at the Gym. Acupuncture. Gorgeous weather. Eating tapas in the Sun. An amazing Toy Store. A Nap. A Bath in Claw-foot Bath-tub. Walking hand-in-hand. More delicious food by Carroll Creek. A Charming Inn. An uninterrupted Night of sleep. A killer Break-fast by a Fire. A 1/2 hour Massage. Hello Kisses and Hugs from My Girls

Seriously, I don't know how we could have added any more of my favorite things to our Anniversary Celebration. It was 24 hours of re-connecting and enjoying my Husband's company. It was a blast.

We hadn't done very much for our previous two Anniversaries, so it was extra-special to really celebrate making it through these last intense three years.

Here are a few photos from our lovely time in Frederick on Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Know Nearly Nothing.

 

 

 

 

"Minutes later the revolving front door turned again. A dark-haired man in a white shirt entered. I watched the waiter lead him in my direction, into my room, into my corner, into the old woman's still-warm seat, eyeing me all the while, making clear to me, at least, the main course he was serving.

 

I was afraid I knew who this man was. I was afraid I knew who had come to have dinner beside me. I was afraid I knew, but for once I wasn't afraid.

 

He was my future husband, of that I was scarily certain, although I knew nothing more about him than that. To know nearly nothing of him, and to expect nothing, for the long life of our marriage.

 

When we think we know someone, you see, we are already halfway to disappointment, and no one needs a head start on that.

 

This is not how we have learned to choose our partners, is it? This is not how we greet people, is it? With an open mind? With an eager hand? Like an unopened gift? Not when we make a life's work out of finding and keeping the perfect mate, the ideal match for our economic aspirations, political views, religious preferences, height, weight, taste in coffee, and wardrobe sensibility - all the ways we foolishly see in another mere validation for ourselves. When we believe we know what's good for us, what's right, and what we're looking for - and believe me, we all do - we condemn all our current relationships and doom the ones to come."

 

-one of my favorite excerpts from Karen Maezen Miller's Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life

 

 

 

*** Photo of the sweet bouquet my Husband brought home to me for our Wedding Anniversary yesterday

Three Years.

Happy Anniversary, My Love.

Thanks for showing me what loyalty looks like every single day.

Thanks for teaching me how to be silly with the girls.

Thanks for being my very own personal chef.

Thanks for dealing with all the hordes of art supplies and herbs that I keep collecting.

Thanks for coordinating all the tiny details of our lives.

Thanks for going grocery shopping with our Eldest.

Thanks for making sure I get the alone time I need.

Thanks for answering all my annoying computer questions.

Thanks for making the bed in the Morning and putting your clothes in the hamper at Night.

Thanks for being willing to constantly go outside your comfort zone.

Thanks for being okay with us having different last names.

Thanks for helping me learn how to be better about time management (obviously I still have a long ways to go).

Thanks for going along with most of my crazy ideas.

Thanks for being such an amazing Support Person during the Births of both of our children.

Thanks for agreeing not to have a T.V. in the Living Room (even though it kills you).

Thanks for possessing the best lap in the World.

Thanks for holding my hand when I need it.

Thanks for infecting my Life with even more enthusiasm (if that is possible).

Thanks for driving us most places and for not getting (too) annoyed with my back-seat driving.

Thanks for working so hard and bringing home such delicious bacon.

Thanks for all your sappy sweet talk.

Thanks for doing all the things like dealing with the Mean Passport Lady.

Thanks for going to the both the PAIRS class and the ABC Parent Classes with me (even though you REALLY didn't want to).

Thanks for getting me a fancy Gym Membership, so I can take care of myself.

Thanks for the not fun job of paying my Student Loans each and every Month.

Thanks for constantly surprising me with good chocolate and good cheese.

Thanks for being willing to drive the crappy car to work, so I can drive the nice car.

Thanks for calling 10 times in an hour when you are worried about me.

Thanks for giving me two Curious, Bright-Eyed, Darling Little Girls.

Thanks for expressing your deep appreciation for me every single day.

Thanks for being on My Team.

Thanks for reminding me of all the good in our Marriage when I just want to give up.

The last three years have been intense, we've both been stretched and challenged in ways we never expected. I am so very proud of you and the person you have become. Thanks for choosing to spend the rest of your Life with me.

I love you.

P.S. I love remembering our Vows. Here are mine. And here are yours.

Mattie Stepanek Reminds Us to "Play after a Storm"

 

If you have been reading my Blog for a bit, you may have discovered that I am a fan of Mattie Stepanek's work. His short life was incredibly inspiring (Maya Angelou and Former President Jimmy Carter were also huge fans of Mattie). It never ceases to amaze me, how such a young child could write such poetry. Here and here are some examples of his poems. His Mother is also a Hero of mine.

Since, we've been having some many Summer Storms, recently, here in Northern Virginia, I thought this poem was appropriate...

For Mr. Thompson

The people who like poetry are special.
They are the same people who hear
Lullabies and wind chimes
When the birds are noisy together.
They are the ones who see
Star-gifts in every season -
Tree-stars in the fall,
Snow-stars in the winter,
Dandelion-fairy-stars in the spring, and
Lightning-bug-stars in the summer.
They are the ones who have
Favorite colors that are wonderful gifts
Like sunset or rainbow or treasure.
They are the ones who have a
Song in their heart and
Words in their mind that
Come together and slip out
Into the air or onto paper as a gift
To someone else, or even themselves.
The people who like poetry are probably
The ones who know how to celebrate
Even when things are sad or happy.
We remember that sometimes,
Even if we don't understand why,
That the rain falls for a reason.
We remember how important it is
To play after a storm, just because
We need to keep playing and living.
And, we are the people who remember
To say thank You for God for our gifts.

-May 1996 (six years old) Mattie Stepanek

My Current Bucket List

Every time I start a new journal I write down a new "Bucket List."It's interesting to see how it changes every few months, depending on what is interesting me at that moment.

Here are a few things from my Current Bucket List...

1. Walk the Camino
2. Write and finish a Novel
3. Successfully complete National Novel Writing Month
4. Make a Stain-glass window
5. WWOOF on a farm
6. Learn how to make goat cheese
7. Visit India
8. Build a Herbal Spiral
9. Make a Pair of Wedding Rings with Papa Bear
10. Work my way through The 4-Hour Chef
11. Go to Burning Man
12. Spend the night in a Yurt
13. Make a Cob Oven
14. Take my girls to Prince Edward Island (after reading Anne of Green Gables to them)
15. Drive a Model T through Yosemite
16. Take a TRE Workshop
17. Take a Tintype
18. Help build a house
19. Take a class from a Cobbler and make my own shoes
20. Make a quilt
21. Become a certified Yoga Instructor
22. Visit the Buddhist Temple in Poolesville

The Roles Will Soon Be Reversed

 

 

Right now Big Sissher can't get enough of Baby Sissher. At 6 1/2 weeks, Baby Sissher isn't so sure of this sister thing, yet. Sometimes she is in danger of being smothered by too much Love. Before we know it, I'm sure the baby will be desperately crawling after her sister and the roles will be reversed.

 

Nye-Nye frequently points to her lap and says "Me hold. Me hold." After less than 10 seconds, she will then declare, "All done. All done" and will want the baby off her lap. She spends much of the day touching the baby's face and trying to cuddle with her.

 

On a side note, I can't believe how fast the baby is losing her hair (way faster than her sister did...photos coming soon comparing photos of the girls). We love our Little Old Man Baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mud and Honeysuckle, Pitted Olives and Doting Granddads

 

 

 

 

 

"Happiness is not a science, an art, or an outcome. It can't be quantified, procured, or consumed. It's not invented, but comes naturally made from mud and honeysuckle, pitted olives, and doting granddads who hoist you into their laps for a bumpy ride on a secondhand tractor. It's what we are when we are utterly ourselves in unaffected ease." - Karen Maezen Miller


I absolutely love this book and have been re-reading it constantly since I got it from the library. This quote is one of the author's little gems that I keep going back to daily. Small children are true master teachers. They are utterly themselves every single moment. I have so much to learn from my daughters.

My Love for "Love Dharma"

Love Dharma...  I can't tell you how many times I have bought this book and sent it to friends. It is the perfect antidote to a bad break-up. It has lifted me out of the Darkness after several heart-breaks and helped ground me during my tumultuous '20s. It may possibly be my favorite book. Or at least, one of the most influential.

This is not to say that this book would win any serious literary awards. Geri Larkin's writing is not something that will stand the test of time. If my daughters read it, (when they are in their '20s) they will probably say it feels dated. But, I don't care.

This book speaks to me. Larkin is a Buddhist monk who has been married 3 or 4 times, raised 2 children (including a son whom she almost lost to a drug addiction), had a high-flying corporate job and started a Sangha in the middle of Detroit. She's seen a lot.

It's refreshing to hear some Love Advice from someone who has been in a lot of relationships. You don't have to be a Buddhist or have any Spiritual back-ground to find Wisdom in this book. It's just plain good Advice. Her writing is open and accessible and makes you feel like you are sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat with a long-lost friend.

Larkin introduces the reader to numerous Buddhist women throughout history. Most of them are not well-known. She talks about the Crazy Wisdom these women found in Buddhism. I glean something new from this book every time I pick it up.

Can you tell how much I love this book?

Cocoon Time Method Program. My Valentine's Day/Birthday Day Present.

I am really looking forward to the present Papa Bear gave me for my Birthday/Valentine's Day. It's a teleseminar called Cocoon Time Method. It's a class that helps you prepare for a healing, restful, enjoyable post-partum time.

Haven't I already gone through this once? What else do I need to learn?

Yes, it's true this is my second pregnancy, but the first go-around was different. We were living with my in-laws and my mother-in-law had just retired, so she was home with me all day. We didn't have to worry about meals or cleaning the house. Every night, my in-laws took our daughter for an hour or two, so we could have some time together and rest.

Now, we have our own home and an energetic toddler to boot!

There was also the fact that my daughter spent the first 16 days of her life in the NICU, recovering from Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. The first two weeks (when my body was pretty banged up) were not spent at home. I wasn't prepared for how painful and how long my recovery took.

This time around, I want to be more prepared.

The Cocoon Time Method Teleseminar is broken down into four parts including: Building Your Nest, What to Eat During Cocoon Time, Support, Self-Care, & Self-Awareness, and Partnering through Parenthood.

Each recorded coaching sessions includes numerous worksheets (including: a cookbook, a grocery list, ideas for help with food prep, checklists for emotional and physical self-care, checklists for essentials we'll want in our house, ways of clearing out "clutter," handouts about cultivating support during our Cocoon Time and ways to prepare the most important places in our house for a smooth transition).

Laura Thompson Brady is a Pregnancy, Birthing, and Mama Wellness Coach and her "mission is to help every pregnant woman on the planet not only experience a powerfully peaceful birth but also enjoy a COCOON TIME that is defined by connection, support, rest, rejuvenation, recovery, bonding, time to grapple with what it means to be a Mom, and deeply felt love."

Pregnant Mamas (especially first-time Mamas) often spent much of their pregnancy researching and planning their baby's nursery, trying to figure out all the things you need for a baby's first year and preparing for birth. Usually not a little time is spent learning how to take care of your newborn and creating a post-partum plan.

The more rest and sleep a New Mama gets, the less likely she is to develop post-partum depression. I've been getting concerned about me developing post-partum depression because I have been feeling some mild feelings of depression this pregnancy. I want to do everything I can to prevent this from happening and am looking forward to getting lots of new ideas for my post-partum plan.

I meant to post some information about the class BEFORE the Early-Bird special ended, but that didn't happen.  If you are interested, the program runs from February 26  to March 19, more information can be found here.

Quick...Send Out A Valentine with Paperless Post

paperless post (Photo credit: 'smil)

Whoops. Time flies and you didn't get to send out the Valentines you wanted. What have I done in the past? Jumped over to Paperless Post and ogled all their pretty designs until I narrowed it down to a few pretties.

I've been a huge fan of Paperless Post for several years, now. I loved their designs so much that I used them for my Wedding Invites and every other significant event since then.

Once you create an address book, it's embarrassingly easy to send out cards. It's cheap, too. And, good for the Environment. You can even print them out, if someone REALLY wants a hard-copy.

I like Paperless Post much better than Evite. My Inner-Print-maker loves how you can see the texture of the paper and the dizzying array of envelope liners. It's amazing the variety of designs, they now offer. They've come a long way in a few short years. Can you tell, I'm a fan?

A Fun Valentine Date for the History Buff

Phrygian Bronze Pots (Photo credit: voyageAnatolia.blogspot.com)

 I'll admit it....I'm a bit of a history nerd. Always have been one, always will be one.

The costume box at my childhood home was in constant use...my favorite thing to do as a child was to dress up as a famous person and attempt to re-live their lives. I often found interesting people while flipping through our Encyclopedia. Remember those?

If you are a bit of a history nerd too....then I have the perfect cheap date night.

How about drinking some beer from a 9,000 year-old recipe? Dogfish Head has been brewing beer from some seriously old recipes for over a decade now. Their first foray into the world of "Ancient Ales" began when the company teamed up with a molecular archeologist to recreate what was drank at the funeral of King Midas.

When that proved to be a success, they moved onto ancient China (that's where the 9,000 year-old recipe comes into play).

My husband is the beer drinker in the family but even I got excited when I read about Theobroma. Chocolate???? Yes, please. (Check out the man behind the science).

So, what has that got to do with a "cheap Valentine date night?" My idea is to spend an evening preparing and eating a meal around whatever historic brew catches your eye.

How fun would it be to do a little research and pair an ancient ale with an ancient meal? Seriously fun.

Last Valentine's Day... Papa Bear and I drank Midas Touch while devouring a lamb and lentil stew (supposedly that was the meal consumed by all the mourners at King Mida's tomb). We ate the stew and some naan (also believed to have been eaten at the funeral feast).

The meal was a success! The beer was good (I'm not even a beer drinker) and the meal went perfectly with our beverage of choice.

We had such a blast, we'll planning on doing it again this Valentine's Day. This time we are thinking of going Italian with "Dogfish's latest Ancient Ale " Birra Etrusca Bronze Ale. Italy isn't just about the wines. I'll have a sip or two and tell you what I think.

Here are some of my ideas of excellent beer and meal combos...

Theobroma would work well with turkey and mole verde (and a honeyed yucca dessert).


Sah'tea would be nice with some pea soup, some Finnish meatballs and rye bread (and pancakes with jam for dessert).


Chateau Jiahu could be paired with any of these recipes.


The possibilities are endless. It's also a fun family night (no need to let adults have all the fun... although, obviously, the adults would be the ones partaking in the inspiration behind the meal). Find some music and games to play (maybe even a costume or two, if your kids enjoy dressing up) and you are good to go...

Do any of those meals sound good to you?

A Valentine for the Chef in Your Life

This is the present I made for my husband for our First Wedding Anniversary. It's sentimental, cheesy and practical...things my husband appreciates. He used the spices in this book several times a week for 6 months, until they were all gone! It made me smile every time I saw him use this present.

Not only does it make a nice Anniversary gift, but it could also rock somebody's world on Valentine's Day gift. Did I mention already that I like making books? I spent 45 minutes gathering supplies and 1 hour assembling the book.

I began by heading to the Spice & Tea Exchange in Alexandria (they have locations across the country, if you like to cook beware....this place is addicting and dangerous to your wallet). It helped that my husband and I had agreed upon a $25 limit on our gifts, so I knew I could only get 5 little packets of deliciousness.

My theme for the book was ingredients for a successful marriage. I tried to find things my husband would like to cook with but that also followed the theme. Some of them were a bit of a stretch...but I think it worked overall.

I chose olive salt to represent forgiveness. A lamb herb rub for gentleness. An onion sugar to symbolize kindness. A smoky sea salt to remind us to have courage through the tears. And, finally, a sweet Spanish paprika to represent the importance of keeping "spiciness" alive in your marriage.

I gathered scrapbooking paper that we used at our wedding and some blue electrical tape to make the accordion book. Accordion books are easy to construct (there are some great tutorials floating around, so I won't waste your time explaining how to make one). This book won't win any awards in the technical department but the smile on my husband's face was reward enough (I think his cheesiness may be running off on me).

If you are looking for a last minute Valentine's Day present for the Cook in your life...here's an easy, fairly quick project for you!

Heifer International and Valentine's Day

 

 

 

Is it too early to talk about Valentine's Day? I wanted to share with you one the most inspirational organizations I know (Heifer International) and one of my ideas for how to support this organization this Valentine's Day.

 

This gift is perfect for a Sweetie who is "socially conscious" and would prefer not to get a massive bouquet of red roses grown in Columbia or Ecuador. Instead of dropping $60 on flowers and a card, why not give a simple gift that has the power to change entire communities? For almost 70 years, Heifer International, has been fighting hunger and poverty one cow at a time.

 

The idea is that you are purchase an animal (or a share of an animal) in someone's name. These animals are given to a family struggling with poverty. When the offspring of the animal is born, they are then "passed" on to their neighbors. So on and so forth...

The animals provide the families with income to better their lives and you have provided the gift recipient with the knowledge that their gift has the potential to change lives. There is a very powerful book called Beatrice's Goat (it tells the real-life story of how a little girl got the opportunity to go to school because of her family's involvement with "Heifer International").

You can have fun coming up with creative ways of pairing your donation with something tangible (possibly edible).

Here are some of my ideas...

1. If you buy a share of a goat (starting at $10)...also give a bar of goat milk soap.

2. If you buy a hive of honeybees ($30) ...also give a bunch of honey sticks.

3. If you buy a flock of chicks ($20)...also give some peeps (you know those cute, fluffy marshmallow baby chicks).

4. If you buy a flock of ducks ($20)....also give a cute rubber duckie.

5. If you buy a trio of rabbits (a share for $10 and all 3 for $60)...also give a chocolate bunny (I've started seeing them in stores already since Easter is so early this year).

6. If you buy a share of fish fingerlings ($30)...also give some Swedish fish.

 

You get the idea? Let your creativity run wild! And if you decide to support Heifer International this Valentine's Day, please tell me about it!

Important Things

English: Mr. Keller (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In honor of the snow that fell yesterday in the D.C./NOVA/MD area, I thought I'd share one of Mattie's poems about snow. As I mentioned here, Mattie Stepanek is one of my heroes.

During his short 14 years (spent mostly in a wheel-chair), he wrote 6 poetry books and worked tirelessly on promoting World Peace and visibility for people with disabilities.

Former President Jimmy Carter spoke at Mattie's funeral and said these words,

We have known kings and queens, and we've known presidents and prime ministers, but the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek. His life philosophy was 'Remember to play after every storm!' and his motto was: 'Think Gently, Speak Gently, Live Gently'. He wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played".

If you can, go out and play in the snow today and think of Mattie.

 

Important Things

When I grow up,
I think maybe
I will be a snowman,
Because when it
Snows outside,
I'll already be cold
And like it.
And children will
Play with me,
And laugh
And sing
And dance
All around me.
And those are important
Things to have happen
When you grow up.

-Mattie (December 1993) Age 3

Making Sense of the Senses

beautiful butterfly (Photo credit: Amy Berry)

Our eyes are for looking at things,
But they are also for crying
When we are very happy or very sad.
Our ears are for listening,
But so are our hearts.
Our noses are for smelling food,
But also the wind and the grass and
If we try very hard, butterflies.
Our hands are for feeling,
But also for hugging and touching so gently.
Our mouths and tongues are for tasting,
But also for saying words, like
"I love you," and
"Thank You, God, for all of these things."


                            - Mattie Stepanek, April 1995, age 4



I am just in awe of Mattie writing such beautiful words at such a young age. Four years old. Incredible. His story is one of the most inspiring I have ever read and helps me through those whiny, self-pitying moments.  Here is the post, I wrote earlier this month about him. He is one of my Heroes.

Autism and The Horse Boy

This film came out a few years ago and is a powerful testament of the love a parent feels for their child. It follows a couple, Rupert and Kristen, as they literally travel the length of the world seeking help and understanding for Rowan, their autistic child. The three make an awe-inspiring trek across Mongolia in search of healing.

It's beautiful seeing the amazing connection this child has to the animal world - The Horse Boy is an important reminder that each and every person has special gifts to share with the world.

Rupert and Rowan are now working to help "bring the healing effects of horses, nature and supportive community to autism families." Horse Boy World is their foundation. There is tons of interesting information on what they are calling "Horse Boy Learning." Workshops, books, ideas for teaching autistic children. Tons of fascinating stuff.

Do yourself a favor and get cozy one night this winter and watch this film about one courageous family.

Helping a Toddler Find Inner Peace and Calm

 

Right now, we are smack in-the-middle-of-the-twos...except that my daughter is about to turn 18 months. Loads of tantrums. Loads of frustration. CONSTANTLY.

One thing I have been really working on with my kiddo is teaching her how to stop and take a few breaths when she is upset.

A month ago, I started by calmly walking over to her when she had thrown herself on ground and started thrashing and screaming. I would kneel down by her and gently place my hands on her chest and say, "take a deep breath, my Love, take a deep breath."  I would then take 4 or 5 deep breaths to show her how it was done. It would take 10 seconds or so for her to listen, take some deep breaths and to calm down. I did this "every time she had a tantrum" (which some mornings was like once every 10 minutes).

It didn't take long for her to grasp the concept. Now, when I see a tantrum about to erupt, I say, "okay, take some deep breaths."  And, she does immediately. Frequently, we are able to nip that tantrum in the bud. She is able to remain calm and communicate with me what is frustrating her.

It's awe-inspiring seeing this little person take control of her feelings and learn how to find a little Inner Calmness.

I have also found that I am having more patience throughout the day - because I am pausing and taking more deep breaths.....when I am about to have my own melt-down. It's so simple, yet, so easy to forget to do.

When I am about to lose it, I tell her, "Mommy, is very frustrated right now and needs to sit down and take some deep breaths." Knowing she is watching my every move makes me more committed to staying calm and focusing on my breath.

Our days are much more peaceful (for now). And, I am very, very grateful.