We tend to forget when we step out of our doors and go about our days that we are a privileged people who live in this country. The freedoms we enjoy and take for granted so often came and continue to be realized with a big price.
The holiday we celebrate tomorrow is more than the beginning of summer or a day off that allows for a shorter work week. The sweat and blood of brave men and women whose names we may or may not even know were the price paid for our ability to walk assuredly out of our doors each day. The only repayment we can offer is daily awareness and appreciation of our freedoms and protecting and cherishing them. We need to make their sacrifice worth it. How do we make it worth it?
Be sure to mark Memorial Day by truly remembering when you make that first splash in the pool or bite into that hot dog that freedom was and never will be free. Thank and pray for our troops and their families and enjoy your family and loved ones in the moment. Hang a flag with pride and celebrate our differences and realize they are the core of our freedom. Live up to being an American, to the ideals that were carved out in our constitution and pass it on.
Happy Memorial Day....
Warmly,
Andrea
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
These Are A Few of My Favorite Things....
Now that my private practice has been launched, I have had the honor of having friends and colleagues speak more openly about parenthood, more specifically, motherhood. It's interesting to note that the most difficult job in the world and it's challenges are often the least spoken about in social groups. How much are we trying to keep pace in a world that is not family centered but measures our worth based on our productivity and revenue generation? How much do we look to others to measure how we are doing?
I am a CNN junkie when I get the chance and interestingly enough I was able to catch a segment about post partum depression in dads the other day. Who would have ever thought men suffer this, too? The symptoms are similar to women's symptoms, but men's symptoms are more often overlooked and under reported. Check out www.saddaddy.com I was surprised to hear about it, but in thinking more, why wouldn't dads be crashing too since they suffer sleep deprivation, lose their life as they knew it (and their wives as they knew them) and are expected not to lose a step at work. Their responsibilities have increased and their sleep has decreased, just like moms.
Do you remember what you loved before you were a husband, wife or mom or dad? My husband and I love music and it wasn't until recently that I realized that I really missed it! Our car trips had been taken over by infant and toddler music and rarely do we have an opportunity to find time to just put on some music and relax. There is nothing like belting out your favorite tunes in the shower, in your car or anywhere else for that matter! What is a parent to do?
A friend of mine used a funny term - 'baby muggers' to describe how we lose part of ourselves when we are in the parenthood trenches. It's easy to find ourselves with nothing to look forward to, when we are just replicating days and routines and we're too tired to do anything if we really wanted to and could!
What is a mom or dad to do? Get back to some of your favorite things!! What are some past times that you recall that bring a smile? What are some you remember from being single and what are some from when you were dating/newly weds? How can we find fun in routine?
Parents, take back your lives! We are doing THE most important job on earth but need to feel re-energized to get back in the arena. Go out for a date. Get to know your spouse again. Take a walk. Find a way to incorporate some of the things you love with the kids and keep mixing it up. Parents aren't the only ones who get bored, even kids tire of routine at times. The thing is if we get stuck in a rut in our parenting, in our marriages, our friendships or even our jobs, it's time to mix it up! Don't forget to schedule the fun!!
Try one of these:
Plan a night out with your spouse
Plan a family outting that's fun for everyone
Get together with an old friend and do something you haven't done in a while
Go get some icecream and take a stroll!
Turn up the music
Rent a funny movie and snuggle
Simply remember your favorite things.....you know the rest!!!
Go get 'em!
-Andrea
PS. I'm on my way, honey!
I am a CNN junkie when I get the chance and interestingly enough I was able to catch a segment about post partum depression in dads the other day. Who would have ever thought men suffer this, too? The symptoms are similar to women's symptoms, but men's symptoms are more often overlooked and under reported. Check out www.saddaddy.com I was surprised to hear about it, but in thinking more, why wouldn't dads be crashing too since they suffer sleep deprivation, lose their life as they knew it (and their wives as they knew them) and are expected not to lose a step at work. Their responsibilities have increased and their sleep has decreased, just like moms.
Do you remember what you loved before you were a husband, wife or mom or dad? My husband and I love music and it wasn't until recently that I realized that I really missed it! Our car trips had been taken over by infant and toddler music and rarely do we have an opportunity to find time to just put on some music and relax. There is nothing like belting out your favorite tunes in the shower, in your car or anywhere else for that matter! What is a parent to do?
A friend of mine used a funny term - 'baby muggers' to describe how we lose part of ourselves when we are in the parenthood trenches. It's easy to find ourselves with nothing to look forward to, when we are just replicating days and routines and we're too tired to do anything if we really wanted to and could!
What is a mom or dad to do? Get back to some of your favorite things!! What are some past times that you recall that bring a smile? What are some you remember from being single and what are some from when you were dating/newly weds? How can we find fun in routine?
Parents, take back your lives! We are doing THE most important job on earth but need to feel re-energized to get back in the arena. Go out for a date. Get to know your spouse again. Take a walk. Find a way to incorporate some of the things you love with the kids and keep mixing it up. Parents aren't the only ones who get bored, even kids tire of routine at times. The thing is if we get stuck in a rut in our parenting, in our marriages, our friendships or even our jobs, it's time to mix it up! Don't forget to schedule the fun!!
Try one of these:
Plan a night out with your spouse
Plan a family outting that's fun for everyone
Get together with an old friend and do something you haven't done in a while
Go get some icecream and take a stroll!
Turn up the music
Rent a funny movie and snuggle
Simply remember your favorite things.....you know the rest!!!
Go get 'em!
-Andrea
PS. I'm on my way, honey!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Gratitude
New Beginnings!
Welcome to my blog! I'll be posting some weekly thoughts and will have various topics that you will find interesting to help keep you motivated to be the change you want to see! Consider me your accountability partner and we'll enjoy evolving together!
Last night The Balance Center for Natural Health here in Stevensville, Maryland honored me with an open house welcome as I joined their group on May 1. As I looked around the room, I truly was so grateful to all of the guests who came to see our wonderful center. My thoughts were racing as I remembered my journey to get here and all of the people who were part of my tapestry, who have helped paint my canvas, in the past and in the present. I am humbled by your support and I hold each of you in my heart with such tenderness. I of course had a lot of help from above and know that you were all sent to me to make this important work possible.
For those of you who couldn't be with us, I look forward to seeing you and having you meet my wonderful "A" girls: Teresa Hummel, massage therapist and founder of the center, Heena Choi, acupuncturist and Sara Adelman, nurse practitioner. (Our names all end with an 'A' - isn't that neat!)
More to come.....
Warmly,
Andrea
Welcome to my blog! I'll be posting some weekly thoughts and will have various topics that you will find interesting to help keep you motivated to be the change you want to see! Consider me your accountability partner and we'll enjoy evolving together!
Last night The Balance Center for Natural Health here in Stevensville, Maryland honored me with an open house welcome as I joined their group on May 1. As I looked around the room, I truly was so grateful to all of the guests who came to see our wonderful center. My thoughts were racing as I remembered my journey to get here and all of the people who were part of my tapestry, who have helped paint my canvas, in the past and in the present. I am humbled by your support and I hold each of you in my heart with such tenderness. I of course had a lot of help from above and know that you were all sent to me to make this important work possible.
For those of you who couldn't be with us, I look forward to seeing you and having you meet my wonderful "A" girls: Teresa Hummel, massage therapist and founder of the center, Heena Choi, acupuncturist and Sara Adelman, nurse practitioner. (Our names all end with an 'A' - isn't that neat!)
More to come.....
Warmly,
Andrea
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