March is finally here! If you’re like me, you’re eager for this month to arrive. I’m happy to welcome longer days, warmer weather, and a brand-new season. One of the ways my family celebrates the budding trees and blooming flowers is by firing up the grill. You can often find us stacking shish kabobs with colorful peppers, slices of sweet onion, and juicy chunks of pineapple.

Almost a decade later, when I reflect on this memory, I can still feel this parent’s presence. At that moment, nothing else mattered in the entire world to this parent. It almost seemed as if time was standing still. Looking back on this memory, it’s obvious what was happening right before my eyes. This parent was fully present with their infant. A secure attachment relationship was forming.

I paused at the entrance to the trail, double-checking that I was prepared for the unknown.  Water, check.  Shoes tied, check. Trail map, check.  I took a deep breath and my first steps into uncertain terrain.  Equal parts eager and apprehensive. 

In training a few weeks ago, a home visitor shared that her families often express that “they are not doing enough,” and this struck me because I realized I’ve been hearing this sentiment shared a lot lately. Maybe you’ve even had these thoughts yourself:

Have you ever pretended to know what someone’s talking about while making a mental note to look that term up later? Uh-huh. Well, I have to confess, I’ve been hearing the term infant mental health for a few years now, without really knowing what it meant. You know how...

Earlier this summer, I found myself sitting on my back porch clutching a book about mindful parenting. You’ve probably heard about this concept before. It’s becoming quite a popular topic. Mindfulness can be described as a person’s ability to embrace the present...

Carving out time to create our monthly blog is always refreshing for me. It’s an opportunity to step back from writing curriculum and reflect on something that has impacted me recently. As I look back on this past month, one particular memory bubbles to the forefront...

Some people are born with a love for reading. You know if you’re one of them! My sister is. Even as a child, she often had her head buried in a book. I have snapshots of her peering over the top of paperbacks and giving me eye rolls to prove it. For me, reading has...

As I sit down to write this blog, my week is coming to a close. It’s Friday. I’ve spent my workdays in a virtual conference learning, meeting people from different communities, and listening to motivating speakers. Like so many large gatherings today, this conference...

For those of us who live in the northern hemisphere, spring is officially here, and that’s a reason to celebrate! I don’t know about you, but I relish the opportunity to get outside and enjoy a few moments of fresh air without having to get bundled up, feeling the...