Daily Progress

Progress is not linear

Progress is not linear. Some days I knock this parenting and living gig out of the park: I have an abundance of patience, remember to take care of my needs too, say all the right things to help my kids process their big feelings, model kinder and gentler responses, and have fun.

Other days, I cannot free myself from feeling overwhelmed, my parenting tools and scripts escape me in the heat of the moment, and I cannot seem to do or say anything right.

Afterward, I try to figure out what lessons I've learned, why my kids were having a hard time, and how I can reset my frame of mind and fill up my own emotional cup so I can be more available for them. That self-reflection is still progress, even though it’s not linear.

Here I share my daily struggles, victories, reflections, and more. Rather than long, thought out articles, this space is more like a journal as I keep moving forward.

From My Journal

Intentional Efforts to Focus on What’s Going Well

This journaling prompt showed me just how much the human brain is hardwired to focus on the negative and thus how much I have to redirect my thoughts toward the positive.

Posted in Daily Progress

How One Evening with Friends Made Me Feel 15 Years Younger

Day 1 of my 30-day journaling challenge reminded me of this recent fun evening with friends, which rejuvenated my soul and enabled me to revisit past-Erin.

Posted in Daily Progress

Finding the love in those imperfect holiday moments

One Way to Find the Love Even in Those Imperfect Holiday Moments

During my holiday journaling challenge week, a prompt had us explore recent holiday moments with our kids. Learn about what I discovered about an imperfect holiday moment.

Posted in Daily Progress, Parenting

A State of Mind: When Tension Liquifies Like Melted Butter

Self-care isn't an activity; it's a state of mind. Learn how I unexpectedly remembered this lesson at the last minute of a rather hectic morning.

Posted in Daily Progress

First Day of School: So Many Big Feelings Watching My 1st Grader

My 6-year-old was crazy excited about this first day of school. We all needed this, despite the fear and anxiety we still carry.

Posted in Daily Progress

A Horrible Week of Fighting a Family-Wide Stomach Bug

Our whole family has been fighting a stomach bug. Worse, my 3-year-old spent more than a week being sick, and my heart is tired.

Posted in Daily Progress

A passing glance at the food court of the father who disowned me

A Passing Glance of the Father Who Disowned Me

I saw my dad again, the one who disowned me and erased my childhood. My parents asked to see my kids. Learn what happened.

Posted in Daily Progress

Hair ties to help me be a less critical parent

Can Hair Ties Help Me Stop Being a Critical Parent?

I tried using hair ties as visual cues to help myself stop being a critical parent. Find out how my first week went and the results for both me and my children.

Posted in Daily Progress

From Fighting to Cooperating: How I Made a Horrible Morning Better

This morning, I had two cranky, tired, hungry, overwhelmed kids. Every time they raged, somehow I managed to calm the storms and make a horrible morning better.

Posted in Daily Progress

My son's white board message to his little brother

Evidence of sibling love between my two boys

My day started with a parenting win in the form of sibling love: My 6-year-old found a way to make his little brother feel special.

Posted in Daily Progress

Daily progress as shared on LBP's Facebook page

Get your free guide

We all deserve a safe space where we can return to being just ourself. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Use this personal guide to help you

make time for yourself,
identify what to write about, and
get started writing without your inner judge silencing you.

GET YOUR GUIDE