How Can We Help?

Welcome back, dear readers. We are still working on getting our website up and running, developing our programs, and establishing community here in Santa Fe.

girl writing in diary
In developing our programs, our director, Emma Shows, is training as a life coach. Our marketing director, David Commini, is learning more about marketing and pushing our organization through multiple social media platforms (Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more). As part of our learning, we were asked what our system of services and delivery might look like to our clients.
So, here they are in paragraph form. Continue Reading →

Fun Games and Activities with Small Children

Children’s Games as Found on chestofbooks.com

This section is from the book “If You Live with Little Children”, by Carolyn Kauffman and Patricia Farrell. Also available from Amazon: If You Live with Little Children.

stock-illustration-19772952-kids-hanging-aroundThe following games are suitable to preschool-aged children, if they are allowed to play them in their own way. Continue Reading →

Resources in Our Library

Book Title
Emotional Intellligence: Relating to Yourself and Others
Prepare/Enrich: Parenting Workbook
We’ve Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication
Time Out for Parents: A Compassionate Approach to Parenting
Emotion Regulation in Children and Adolescents: A Practitioner’s Guide
Case Studies in Child and Adolescent Counseling; 3rd Ed.
Kid Shape: A Practical Prescription for Helping Your Child
The Way They Learn
The Year Round Parent: A Practical Survival Guide
The Five Love Languages of Children
What Mary & Joseph Knew (or didn’t know) About Parenting: Surprising Insights from the Best (and worst) Parents in the Bible
52 Things Kids Need From a Mom: What Mothers Can Do to Make a Lifelong Difference
Development Across the Lifespan, 6th Ed
Modern Girl’s Guide to Motherhood
Guilt-Free Parenting (Christian Guide to): Escaping the “Perfect Parent” Trap
Adolescence
At Risk Youth: A Comprehensive Response for Counselors, Teachers, Psychologists, and Human Service Professionals; 5th Ed.

Give-Away: Prepare Enrich Couples Relationship Strengths Assessment

prepare-enrich

We’re hosting a giveaway for 2 free couples’ relationship strengths assessments. Interested parties can comment on our Facebook page at LYDIA, Inc. For more information on the Prepare-Enrich program, visit Prepare-Enrich.
The assessments are free, and our suggested session fee is $35 each. Sessions packages are 6-10 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 12-15 weeks. Prepare Enrich can be used as a marriage readiness course, a simple “how are we doing gauge”, a marriage and family assessment, and a look at the blending of two families (step-family readiness).

Enter now, don’t delay. Winners will be notified via Facebook PM on 11/16/2015.

Busy-ness

We have been very busy the past few weeks, moving the household, arranging our furniture, and getting back on track with our schedules.

Routines are very important, not just for the children but for yourselves. With a “fluid” routine, you know what’s coming up for the day – what to expect – and what you need to prepare for those activities. You know that you’ll eat 3 large, or 5-6 small meals a day. You know there’s after school activities, or what time you’ll be home from work. You know what time you’ll most likely sleep and what time you awaken each day.
You know the stressors you’ll face, and you know how to overcome them (if you don’t, give us a call. We’ll help you find answers).

Being fluid is also important. Not flexible – as someone once explained to me, flexible = a breaking point. Fluid bends, flows, wraps around and pushes through whatever it faces. Water – liquid/fluid – can cut through stone. It can carry so much weight – imagine being in a pool, or at the beach, and floating on your back. Fluid. Being fluid means that you realize there will be unexpected events, things you have to face that you may not be fully prepared for – and face them anyway.

Sure, there’s some change. Some growth. This is a good thing. It can be scary, at times, and we hesitate to face these new things, these slight interruptions to our routines. But we can learn to welcome them, to embrace the good ones and learn from the irritating interruptions. We learn to be fluid. We learn to let go of these stressors and to embrace all that life brings. We stand in the midst of the storm – the confusion, the doubt, the fear – and we are the peace. We teach our children, our families, even our friends to be fluid. Be fluid. Be at peace.

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