Ariel wrote the parenting advice column, Ask Ariel for Portland Family Magazine from 2015 until the magazine folded in 2017. In addition to parent coaching, Ariel writes about family travel and family adventures for various print and online publications.
Family life can be so busy and it is easy to slip into a hurried and/or harried state. I hope some information about the concept of equanimity (much of which comes from the writings of Shizen Young) will help guide you through the ups and downs of the packed weekly routine. Equanimity comes from the Latin word aequus, meaning balanced and animus meaning spirit or international state. In the physical world we say a person has lost balance if they fall to one side or another.
Read MoreMany of our kids are feeling high levels of anxiety in this time after the most intense months of the global pandemic. It’s not only Covid-19 that worries out kids, but politics, climate change, navigating social situations with friends and family changes are just a few things that build up anxiety in their energetic systems.
Read MoreA big part of my parent coaching practice centers on helping parents bring mindful awareness to their relationships within the family unit and with their own emotional state. When we pay attention to what is happening in each moment, we can better address the conflicts and discomfort that cause disruptions in family life.
Read MoreChildren by their very nature are both fragile and resilient at the same time. To help prevent or minimize both big and small traumas of childhood, it is important for the adults to be calm.
Read MoreSuggestions on how to add mindful practices to family life.
Read MoreOne way to be with a difficult or challenging experience or mind state is to focus attention on something visual. Using an object that changes over time can help settle a difficult emotion or experience. A glitter jar is a great tool to help kids and adults calm down and it’s a fun family project.
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