When my first daughter was born, I was young, newly married, and living in a new city with no friends and no family. Even though my husband was and always has been very supportive, I knew I needed help.
Who gives you the support you need to be the parent you want to be?
This Father's Day, we meet Thiago Queiroz, a dad who has been absolutely on fire for supporting other fathers in his native Brazil since his oldest of 4 children was born a decade ago. Many dads have been able to "meet" Thiago through his role in the American documentary, Dads.
Some days, I feel like I do a pretty good job of balancing my career, my family, and myself. Other days, it feels like I'm falling desperately behind and failing on all three counts.
Balance is not one-size-fits-all. In what ways have you discovered how to spend more time with your kids?
I placed the diaper on the kitchen counter. I stared at it and felt a sense of relief and a hint of joy. Memories started to flood my mind.
What will you miss from this stage of parenting? How can you enjoy more of the time with your child in the moment?
My 9-year-old son has never said "I love you."
In what ways other than saying "I love you," does your child communicate that he or she loves you? How can you communicate your love for your child today without words?
While social media has made constant and instantaneous connection easier, there is nothing quite like going to a face-to-face meeting and interacting with other parents and their children in real time. Having a parents' group means having a common thread with other families to help us create a safe, still space when it seems that our world is constantly in motion.
Who is someone you could reach out to about meeting up at the park for a playdate and parent-to-parent conversation?
My friend, Nichole, and her husband both work full-time. Their 2-year-old daughter spends the day with a childcare provider who has cared for her during work days since she was 6 weeks old. Nichole's husband picks up their daughter from the childcare center.
In what ways do you reconnect with your child after time away?
This morning, it snowed in Seattle. It reminded me of the night Max was born, almost exactly five years ago, when it was sunny and rainy and windy and then, in the middle of the night when we were upside-down with time and date, we looked out the window and saw snow swirling around.
How long has it been since your child's birth? How many times have you shared your birth story with others? How do you continue to celebrate the good and work through the challenges?
Amber Strocel has 2 children. She lives in British Columbia, Canada.
We want to celebrate our child's unique traits, but sometimes their differences can be worrying. We wonder if they seem a little out of step with developmental milestones or when their temperament seems much different when compared with other children?
My partner and I had asked all the big questions as we got ready for the birth of our son. We'd prepared ourselves both physically and spiritually for what we expected to be a smooth, beautiful childbirth assisted by our midwife. It just never occurred to me that we would need anything besides each other to welcome our child into this world.
How do you feel about your childbirth experience? In which ways, did your experience help you to bond with your baby?
Absolutely the greatest contribution I can make toward Earth's stewardship is to raise children who care.
What are your favorite activities to do in nature? What is one activity you can share with your child this week?
I breastfed both of my babies. Once we got the hang of things, it was easy. Then I introduced solid foods. I decided that presenting healthy options wasn't enough. I wanted to get them involved in the food they eat.
How do you involve your children in their food?