Feeling afraid? Create light.

Cathy Adams Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting, self-awareness 1 Comment

I told my girls about the Paris tragedy. I explained that a few very angry people chose to harm and create fear, but their actions actually led to compassionate solidarity all over the world. They thought they were spreading hate, but instead they ignited togetherness and love. In an instant people remembered what mattered most. They stopped, became silent, prayed. …

Love what we see

Cathy Adams Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting, Writing 2 Comments

I have met people who make poor choices, people who act out of fear, people who demonstrate the negativity they feel. They aren’t inherently bad. They’ve just forgotten who they are. Pieces of themselves have been harmed, shamed, or forgotten. They are no longer whole, they act from brokenness. They carry unexpressed experiences and stories. They believe untrue fears that …

Want Change? Then Rethink

Cathy Adams Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting, Writing 1 Comment

  It’s been a tough week. How do we process what we feel? How do we change circumstances? Dialogue and posts are great, but they tend to fade away once we accept what has occurred. I don’t want to oversimplify the complexity of the week’s events, or the challenges of our unique lives. But even the most complex issues necessitate …

Throw away the litter, find the goodness

Cathy Adams Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting, Writing 0 Comments

I took a walk with my almost-done-with-Kindergarten-6-year-old today. At her suggestion we took a garbage bag with us because she wanted it to be a “litter walk”. She explained that we pick up litter as we move and talk. And that we did. We walked through the whole park and found so much junk to throw away – this created …

Crying is real, crying is strong

Cathy Adams Be U: Raising Whole and Courageous Kids, Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting, Writing 6 Comments

I used to be uncomfortable in emotional movies because I’m a crier. I am moved very easily, I have always been moved very easily. So during a movie, or when witnessing an act of kindness, or when hearing a touching story, I would hold my breath, or wipe my eyes quickly, or blink fast – whatever needed to be done …

Let’s be clear – what do we really want for our kids?

Cathy Adams Be U: Raising Whole and Courageous Kids, Books, self-aware parenting, Writing 0 Comments

When I ask parents this question, the most common response is:  I just want my kids to be happy. This is great in concept, but what does this really mean? Be honest – what does happiness really mean to you?  Do you want your children to work super hard so they are the smartest in class?  Do you want them to constantly …

Banning Bossy: It’s not about the word, it’s about the conversation

Cathy Adams Books, Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting 2 Comments

People create things based on their own experience. And in Sheryl Sandburg’s experience, “bossy” made her feel wrong or maybe uncomfortable. Obviously it didn’t hold her back, but when people used it with her, the energy must have felt negative or at the very least unbalanced when compared to boys. I have noticed that there are many negative articles and …

The teacher needs a teacher

Cathy Adams Family Stories, Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting 1 Comment

Early yesterday morning I taught my college students. We talked about how they need to take care of themselves so they can best utilize their skills. In the middle of the day I worked with elementary school students.  We talked about how important it is for them to appreciate who they are and make themselves a priority. At night, I …

10 Harmonious Practices for 2014

Cathy Adams Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting 0 Comments

1.       Quiet meditation (quiet time, going inside, call it what you want) When I don’t do it, I can tell. I get impatient faster and I get annoyed more often.  It’s more difficult to recognize how I contribute to every situation, and even worse, it’s difficult to access that place deep down inside that recognizes the amazingness of life. 2.       …

Teaching 5th grade girls to love themselves

Cathy Adams Be U: Raising Whole and Courageous Kids, self-aware parenting 3 Comments

What do 5th grade girls need? They need to know they are OK and not alone. They need to know they have adults who will support and understand them.  They need to know they are worthy and valuable, just as they are. Venturing into the world of preadolescence can be scary and uncomfortable, but it can also be fun and …

Where joy really comes from

Cathy Adams Family Stories, self-aware parenting 0 Comments

I picked up my daughter from Kindergarten today and she said, “I just feel so like me today….I love feeling like me.” As we walked to the car she held my hand, skipped, and hummed. Today she wore hand-me-down clothes from her sisters, some barrettes she found under her bed, and some bright blue shoes. We didn’t have any planned …

3 Myths About Introverts

Cathy Adams Personal Reflection, self-aware parenting 0 Comments

“Introvert” tends to bring up an image of a shy person in a corner, or an insecure person at home alone.  But over the years I have learned that introversion isn’t about shyness or insecurity, it’s about where and how you derive your energy. Extroverts tend to get their energy from outside stimulation, and introverts tend to find it from …