Sarah MacLaughlin's Blog, page 3

Interview Swap with Carrie Contey, PhD

I was absolutely delighted to meet Carrie Contey this week and get to know about her and her revolutionary work with parents and families. Carrie's manner is direct and kind, her message is both simple and a well integrated blend of science and real life. Her enthusiastic and reassuring way will remind you that you are on the right track. 
Checking in with Carrie about your parenting life is like being on a trip and asking her for directions. She would tell you that you were heading the right way, but would alter your course a tad so you had the most direct route; one with no pot holes or gum that could get stuck to your shoe. And she'd likely ensure that you stopped in at her favorite coffee shop or bakery for a fresh pastry along the way. You know, because it's just more fun when you're walking along if you have a little powdered sugar on your chin. 
If you are in any of the following cities, I suggest you check out Carrie's website, grab a friend, (or even better, your mate) and sign up for her talk.Go!
Denver, CO :: Thursday, August 2nd » INFO HERESan Francisco, CA :: Sunday, August 5th » INFO HERESeattle, WA :: Wednesday, August 8th » INFO HERESanta Barbara, CA :: Monday, August 13th » INFO HEREAlbuquerque, NM :: Saturday, August 18th » INFO HERE 
Oh, and Carrie and I had the pleasure of interviewing each other! Read below for more about her, and check here for her interview with me. 
1) Please share some of your background.
I loved being around babies and young children from as early as I can remember. As a child and adolescent I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician. In college I was drawn to psychology and holistic health. After college I began to study midwifery, but that wasn't quite right. Ultimately I was led to pursue a PhD in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology which now, looking back, incorporates all of my interests, and much more.

2) What first sparked your interest in child development/parenting education/brain science?
The initial spark was holding a little tiny newborn when I was seven years old. As I continued walking my path I realized that there were a lot of people trying to undo what was done to them in early childhood. I began to ask myself these questions, "What do humans need from the beginning of life to remain whole and connected to who they already are? What do parents need to know about human development to support their little people's development with the least interference possible?" Those questions have driven my academic and professional pursuits, and have shaped my research and work, for many years now. 
3) What are your top three book suggestions for parents?
My tippy top is "Your Child's Self-Esteem" by Dorothy Briggs. It's an old book, written in 1971, but says everything, and more that I would want to say now. It's timeless and priceless. I encourage all of my clients to read it.
My second is "Parenting from the Inside Out" by Dan Siegel. Back in 2004 I began offering parenting book study groups that centered around this book. It's the perfect intro to brain development, interpersonal neuroscience and how our own early experiences, and attachments, inform how we parent.My third is "The Conscious Parent" by Shafali Tsbary. This book is a true gem. A guide for using the parenting journey as an opportunity for massive personal growth and healing. 
4) What is your favorite part about working with families? Least favorite?
I love offering parents a whole new lens for understanding their children and human development. Within that, I love sharing information about brain development. It's thrilling to watch a parent's eyes light up when they "get it" and start to understand their children and their behavior in new and much more compassionate ways.  I honestly don't think there's anything I don't love about the work I do with families aside from the fact that I can't speak to every parent out there, yet;)

5) Please share more about your work/experiences/research?
I write, speak, consult and educate parents, teachers and caregivers mostly in Austin TX but also nationally. Currently I'm on a Whirl Tour, traveling around the US speaking to parents in 13 different cities. Follow me and my travels on Twitter.
6) What else do you have going on for the rest of 2012?
I created a program called Evolve in 2011 and I offered it again in 2012. This year I have 200 families that I support through Evolve.  Evolve is a year-long program that provides parents with the support, guidance and inspiration to get clear and re-wire their brains around Parenting, Personhood (self-care), Partnership and Prosperity. It's a holistic/community focused approach to personal development and family life. I'll be offering Evolve in 2013. Please consider joining me. It's life changing! 
7) Please share where people can find out more about you and your work?
Visit my website. It's chock-full of blog posts, videos and other free resources that will support, inform and inspire you. Also, I started Slow Family Living with my friend Bernadette. Have a peek if you are interested in finding ways to slow down, connect and enjoy family life more.

Guest Post from Nicole Chaison: "What Do I Say Now?"

Nicole is a fellow Portlander who is the writer of the zine Hausfrau author of the pee-your-pants funny book The Passion of the Hausfrau . Then she adapted her book into a one woman show performed by the talented Bess Welden. I read the book and saw the play twice and probably peed my pants all three times.

Nicole will be posting a little tidbit of mine in the next few weeks at her new blog Resurgam

Here's Nicole's take on my book:
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Author Interview with Teresa Morrow

Today's post is an interview from word-lover Teresa Morrow. Her site is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in writing. About her career as a author/writer/poet, she says, "My life purpose is to spread inspiration through words. I am blessed and extremely grateful that I get to be a writer and author. I also enjoy helping my fellow writers spread the news of their books with the world." This page is full of inspiration and great tips!

Body Talk at Core Parenting

Hi again,

A really cool result from this marathon blog tour (and it has been a marathon!) is how many amazing new sites and blogs I've learned about. Today's host is Core Parenting and their page has great resources for parents. I love this intro to their philosohy, and I couldn't agree more: "Core Parenting is about finding what works for each family. We don’t believe that any one book, resource, theory or strategy can meet all the needs of every child and parent. However, inspiration comes from a variety of sources and when used with flexibility, we believe that most resources have at least a little wisdom." This site does an awesome job distilling those resoureces into easy-to-read and brilliant posts.

My guest post about how important it is for parents and caregivers to be mindful about say to young children about looks and food and sex is vitally important.

Book Review and Examination of Gender Bias at State-of-the-Heart Parenting

Today's post is at State-of-the-Heart Parenting. Isn't that a lovely title? I also love the honest description of their family: "We are an eclectic, jumbled up, and blended-to-perfection attachment parenting, vegetarian, gluten-free, breastfeeding, babywearing, co-sleeping, homeschooling family in the Erie PA area." Her blog has a lot of resources for parents. You can read Justine's kind review and my article there called Earrings, and Nail Polish, and Barrettes, Oh My! .  It is my musings about gender bias. Check it out!

The winner of the Kindle Touch will be announced in just a handful of days, don't forget to enter.

Avoiding Shame and Blame at The Awesome Mom

The Awesome Mom's site is well named. She is "A Bronx mother of three: adventures in babies, kids, autism, parenting & everything else in between." Her site is a great resourece for any parent, but has specific tabs about Autism, Local Culture, and Special Education. What a great spot for my guest post today about Avoiding Shame and Blame!

Navigating Power and Emotions at America's Angel

America's Angel has the best tag line ever: Raising the Bar on Raising America. I'm proud to be on their advisory board and I'm glad to have a post up on their blog today about two hot topics: Power and Emotions. Check out their site and the great work they are doing and read my post here.

Read about my Parenting Fails at She's a Maineiac

My old friend Darla is hosting me at her very funny blog She's a Maineiac today. I don't mean that Darla is old, though she is older than me, but only ever so slightly, like a year or two, maybe?...but anyway. What I meant was that Darla and I were friends a long time ago. Not that we're not friends anymore, but we're more like Facebook friends, but not a Facebook friend I don't  know, just one I don't see that much anymore. But not because I don't like her, geez, I just can't get this right.

What I mean is that even though I spent an entire year living down the hall from Darla when I was an idiotic know-it-all teenager my first year of college and we both carried buckets of shampoo to the community bathroom wearing flip-flops and stayed up way too late talking about which boys we thought were cute and made up ridiculous dance routines to loud music in our dorm hallway, I've only actually seen her twice since 1990. Both times in the last few years so we could introduce our children to each other and attempt to catch up while they wreaked havoc on our surroundings. What I mean is that thanks to Facebook and our blogs, Darla and I actually still know each other. Cool huh?

Read her blog. It's hilarious. Especially the post where she outs herself in her “mountain of hair” haircut?  I get to say I knew her when! I tried to keep up with my post here, but I don't think I did.

Discipline from the Heart at Real Child Development

I am thrilled to have a guest post at Real Child Development today. Read my thoughts on gentle, connection-based discipline here.

Leslie, who writes this blog, is living and working with her lovely family of six in Jaco, Costa Rica where they help run an after school program for underpriviledged youth. The work they do there is beyond admirable. Their site is wonderfully informative for any parent.

They have a separate blog about their mission work here.

Say Good-bye to Prompts at Parenting with Understanding

Hello and Happy Monday! Today's post is an adapted and excerpted article from What Not to Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children over at Parenting with Understanding. I love the subtitle of their blog: Understanding children, their behaviour, and the effect our parenting style can have on them. This is important stuff! They have a wonderful category entitled: Connection: Being an Attuned Parent. I love it! Please peruse this great resourece for parents.