Lektion 1
Welcome to the Course!
Let's get started by taking a look at motherhood and this journey you've begun. It's a wonderful spiritual and emotional journey, full of ups and downs! Here we'll discuss some of the key principles of mindfulness and how it can enhance your wellbeing as you adjust to life with a new baby.
Lektion 2
A New You
Bringing a new baby into the home can be a wonderful, and also wonderfully overwhelming experience. This adjustment can be quick or take a very long time. The reality, though, is that there’s no looking back-- you are forever changed-- and that is a beautiful thing! It’s time to get used to a new normal, and accept the new you that was born the moment your baby was born.
Lektion 3
Invisible Bonds Of Love
The bonds that bind you and your baby are like no other. And whether you feel this connection immediately, or only over the course of time, it’s important to tune into the instincts that will begin to emerge as you forge your connection. Sometimes they may feel they are buried underneath a mess of emotions, but getting in contact with them will help you to deal with some of the overwhelm in these early days.
Lektion 4
Managing Expectations
After a long period of anticipation, you were likely forming a myriad of expectations about how the pregnancy, birth and everything else would go. Reality may or may not have met your expectations! It’s time to take a closer look at how your preconceptions line up with what is actually taking place. If you got caught up in how you wanted or thought things should be, and it’s disappointed you-- you may be suffering needlessly. A little mindfulness can help you reground in the way things are.
Lektion 5
Meeting Demands Of Your Baby
This wonderful and beautiful little being that’s entered your world is completely dependent upon you! While it is sometimes endearing, it can also call up a whole host of difficult emotions, especially exhaustion. All of the feelings you may be experiencing are normal, so feel at peace knowing that this period is only temporary. Keeping things in perspective can always be helpful.
Lektion 6
Sleep Deprivation
Most likely your sleep schedule has been completely thrown off with the entrance of your little one into the home. This lack of control, and also the accompanying tiredness can really throw you off balance. Don’t forget to take care of you as much as possible, and rest when you can. Sometimes just remembering that this too shall pass is enough to get you through the trying moments. See if you can find some sweet, tender and connecting experiences when you think you don’t have any more to give.
Lektion 7
Coping With Challenging Feelings
Giving birth and adjusting to life with a new baby can be completely all-encompassing and overwhelming-- especially emotionally. Your hormones are likely still out of whack, your sleep patterns are off, and you are probably finding less time to take care of you. Of course this can call up challenging emotions! Every one of them is normal. Rest and relax, knowing that whatever you feel, so many other mothers have too, and that there is space for all emotions-- the bad, along with the good. Your mindfulness practice can help you to process and release them.
Lektion 8
Self-Care
Someone has to take care of you, too! If you're lucky you’ll have help surrounding you, but more often than not, you’ll have to be the one prioritizing you. You and your well-being are just as important as your baby’s. Don’t lose sight of yourself and your own needs. Find what replenishes you and brings you joy, and make those things happen. You can’t show up for your baby or others if you are depleted and drained. You deserve to take good care of yourself and to feel confident in doing so.
Lektion 9
Self-Acceptance, New Body
What a miracle has just taken place-- your body has just created a life! Take a moment to appreciate that for what it is. Your body is amazing, and worthy of all the praise there is to give. Love your body, no matter what shape it is in! Bring that self-compassion to the table any time you are feeling less than you were before, frustrated with the changes you’re seeing, or your expectations aren’t being met. Your baby loves you just the way you are-- and you can too. Be gentle with yourself and accepting of yourself, just as you are.
Lektion 10
Changed Relationships
Bringing a new member into the home can throw everything off balance-- whether it’s your first baby or fifth. There will be an adjustment period for everyone, as relationships and roles shift a bit. Mindfulness can help you make space for everyone to find themselves in this new family dynamic. Gratitude for each member of the family, and a little bit of grace around expectations can help you keep perspective and find a new balance.
Lektion 11
Connecting With Intuition & Fostering Self-Confidence
Taking a few minutes a day to tune into yourself and your inner world can be a great support in tapping into your own wisdom and intuition. This powerful resource will begin to emerge as you grow in your role as a mother and can be invaluable in fostering your own confidence and calm amidst the questions and issues that you may face while parenting and forging a connection with your little one. Make the space for development of your intuition, trust in it, and most of all, keep your heart open-- and you will find yourself blossoming as a mother.
Lektion 12
Wrapping It All Up
In this final lesson, we will remember some of the main tenets of the course and recap the principles we've been learning together. As you develop your mindfulness practice, you can take these new skills with you to support your easeful transition to having a new member of the family. Love is at the center!
