Betsy and Chris

<<I can't find any particularly parent-of-toddler stuff. Do others here
know
of some?>>

Natural Child Project has parenting affirmation cards you can buy, but there
are also samples to view online

http://www.naturalchild.org/home/ Scroll down to Parenting Cards.

Something else I try to do is pretend what I'm feeling/saying is coming from
someone else. For example, if I told you that I was currently overwhelmed
with my kid(s) and not finding balance and enough time to recharge, you
probably wouldn't say, "Geez, what's wrong with you?! How hard could it be?"
Likely you would say something supportive and reassuring like, "Oh Man! I
know just how you feel! When mine were little like that I felt so strung out
all the time! It's HARD, isn't it?! Hang in there, though--you're doing
great and your kids are TERRIFIC!" So, the trick is to tell YOURSELF the
second one and not save the good stuff only for other people.

Hope that helps,
Betsy S.

Andrea Burlingame

==Something else I try to do is pretend what I'm feeling/saying is coming
from someone else. For example, if I told you that I was currently
overwhelmed with my kid(s) and not finding balance and enough time to
recharge, you probably wouldn't say, "Geez, what's wrong with you?! How hard
could it be?" Likely you would say something supportive and reassuring like,
"Oh Man! I know just how you feel! When mine were little like that I felt so
strung out all the time! It's HARD, isn't it?! Hang in there, though--you're
doing great and your kids are TERRIFIC!" So, the trick is to tell YOURSELF
the second one and not save the good stuff only for other people

Hope that helps,
Betsy S.==

It does help Betsy. I like the idea of telling myself what I would tell
someone else in my position, especially if I also drop off all my old
baggage first (all the negative things my own parents have said to me that
have stuck to my psyche like a fly on flypaper.)

Andrea (the calm and compassionate)