Self-love: It’s likely that yesterday you made some mistakes. We all did. Again, none of us have parented under these conditions before and now is not the time to aim for perfection. Self-Love is consciously stopping the negative self talk and replacing it with an affirmation. Right now, think of three reasons why you’re a great parent. What are your strengths? Got them? Now, the next time you make a mistake tell yourself I’m a good parent because...
Parenting Tip: Alternative to No! Try “I see” instead! We teach a method of honoring the impulse behind the behavior and redirecting to a more desirable behavior based on that impulse. For example, if the child is banging a wooden hammer on the floor where we might be afraid of damaging the floor or bothering neighbors, instead of saying “Please stop banging your hammer,” or "Don't do that, or NO, no no" we might try "I see you really want to bang your hammer and like the sound it makes when it hits the ground-let’s try banging these different Tupperware containers and see what sound they make." See how the redirection lines up with the child’s impulse. If you start with “I see” it will help you get there.
Nature Spot: Even with new “shelter at home” orders, we can still get into nature, as long as we maintain 6ft from others. Luckily this is possible in open spaces! Let’s take advantage of this as long as possible! Try Chain of Lakes for a wonderful open meadow, and several different little trails perfect for even the youngest toddlers. This is the address for navigation: 366 Chain of Lakes Dr E, San Francisco, CA 94121. If you are heading west (toward the ocean) on JFK you would turn left onto Chain of Lakes and you will see a parking lot on your left.
Indoor Activity: Happy St Patrick’s Day! I’ve got a Patrick in my family and though he’s disappointed we won’t be able to celebrate at school this year, we’re still planning on making the day a little extra special. Why not try a little self-made St Patrick's Day scavenger hunt? All you need is paper ad a little creativity to leave little clues around your house to find the leprechaun. Hint: Put where each clue goes on the back to save yourself some time in placing the clues.