My Conscious Parenting Ritual...

If a busy parent develops their sense of self love, spiritual connection and a deep awareness of their whole selves, they can freely create a conscious, fulfilling, life of flow and relief with their kids. 
When a parent is stressed out and spread too thin, they are simply trying to get water from an empty well.

Whereas, when you connect to your spiritual resources and inner self, energy flows to you, fuels you, replenishes you and keeps you present and calm.
Children respond to a present, grounded parent...
whereas they can't when their mom and dad feel scattered and all over the place.

It's a strong belief within me, I can tell you that.
But have I ever told you why this is such a powerful belief?
Why do I feel this is the conscious parenting secret sauce?

Because I've been on both ends of the scale. 
I often will talk about having 2 little girls under one. I'll talk about feeling scattered homeschooling as well as running a business.
But I don't think I've ever discussed what led me to truly trusting in the power of going within. 

In 2010 we took our first worldschooling trip to the UK, but in so many ways it was one of escape.
- We'd been working on fixing up our house, a money pit, and my husband was facing burnout.
- Our dog had been killed by a neighbor.
- Our goat had died in giving birth... along with 2 of her kids.
- My family was gripped in heartbreak with some extended family issues.
- CPS had been called by neighbors concerned about our daughters not being in school. (before homeschooling became a thing in our province.)

I was spread so thin I would find myself shaking. I was running around after everyone's needs, and each time the phone rang I would feel myself tense up and start to panic.

---

And so, we ran away. 
But the thing is that problems will always follow. 
Vibration, energy, our own stories are always what creates the reality we live in... so even when we first arrived we were faced with more drama, more stress, more worry. 

There was only one faint whisper of hope, which I was beginning to hear when I was pregnant with our son.
It was that if I connected to Spirit, if I delved deep into the unseen realm of life, I would find the inner strength, the inner resources to create a new way of living. 
And yet, it was a faint whisper and I was too scared to trust it.

One day, we found ourselves in Wales, in a tiny spot called St. Non's. 
The powerful calling of divine female energy rang out from the old ruins and deep within the earth. 
My husband had taken our son for a meander, and our girls were fascinated by the healing springs...
and I sat.
I dropped to my knees, tears releasing the pressure of what had been and I started to open the pains that I'd been pushing against. 
I released them to Spirit, and as I did, I felt a deep reassurance flood through me. 
I wasn't alone.

Within that holy, sacred moment I was reminded what spiritual awareness truly felt like. I felt replenished. I felt revived and so began the sense of spiritual wellbeing that has led me through numerous stressful times since.

I started to practice inner connection whenever I could; a sense of opening myself up to divine Spirit, allowing myself to be refueled, replenished and refueled. 
I developed my emotional awareness how I felt, what felt off, and made decisions based on the intuitive pull and guidance of it all. I started allowing myself to dive in heart centre.

When I felt hungry, I ate. When I felt thirsty I drank.
and when I felt spread out like a pancake, drained of life force...
I sat in quiet and allowed myself to fill up again.

In fact, I didn't even wait to that point. 
I started to open to the idea that I could reset at anytime... The Universe had my back.

What did this do for my parenting?
Practicing this level of spiritual connection gave my children the awareness of their own sense of grounding and balance... as they witnessed mindfulness work for me, they started seeing how it could work for them.
But, at the same time, it meant that I could hear them differently. I didn't have stories of rebellion anymore, I no longer saw whining, but a craving for connection. 
I no longer pushed against them clinging to me, when I was refueled I enjoyed the long cuddles sharing a space of love and support. Deep connection on a spiritual level could only be found with them, when I could find it within myself.

So, why am I telling you this now?
Because too often a mom will tell me she feels like everyone is asking for her, pulling at her and demanding her attention. 
Too often I hear someone tell me they feel so tired and drained out and 
I'm saying... I hear you. I know. I've been there.
I'm not just spiritually bypassing when I say trust that the universe has your back.
I'm literally, factually and confidently saying... 
Start with giving yourself permission to let Spirit in.
Energy, love and sacred wholeness is flowing to you... to support you through this. 
And as you let it in, your muscles and resistance will begin to relax and you'll start to feel a bit better, step by step. Suddenly, amazing things can start to happen.
You are never alone. Breathe Deep and let yourself feel the love offered to you.