Postpartum Support Toronto

The broken will always be able to love harder than most. Once you've been in the dark, you learn to appreciate everything that shines.

Spatula says: that's a nice drawer you're about to open there. Be a shame if something were to... prevent that entirely.

It's ok to be sad after making the right decision.

I want to officially invite you to the online book launch because I couldn't have written this book without all the wisdom and feedback from this community. In partnership with Parentbooks Toronto, we are going to celebrate by talking openly together about how impossible parenting can feel sometimes, but also honoring all the ways in which we navigate these difficult spaces to find joy and rest and connection. Please sign up and pop in to join us on November 8:https://counseling.oliviascobie.com/book-order/ You can pre-order a copy by emailing Parent Books at [email protected]

If you have been feeling like parenting is extra hard these days... you're right! The culture of parenting has changed a lot since we were kids and has created an environment that can leave us feeling like we just can't get it right. Thankfully, the landscape of parenting is always changing and we don't need to be stuck here. By naming today’s unrealistic parenting expectations as impossible from the get-go, parents can create the space to acknowledge harmful expectations for... new parents and begin a conversation that focuses on healing and doing the best one can with the resources available. The book, Impossible Parenting, provides practical solutions for parents who find themselves pushing beyond their capacity to meet impossible standards, and challenges parents to shift their thinking from child centred to family centred. The Impossible Parenting Book Club is for parents who want to dig a little deeper with the material and create a new pathway for parents that balances their needs and protects their mental health. It's a year long course with monthly analysis, challenges, and discussion. Join us: https://olivia-scobie-s-school.teachable.com/p/impossible/

Benefits of movement that have nothing to do with appearance: -Endorphins -Increased fitness -Better concentration -Bone health... -Reduced stress levels -Improved mood -Cardiovascular health -Joint health -Improved digestion See more

"With everyone experiencing this pandemic differently depending on their personal and professional circumstances, it’s impossible to summarize all the potential reasons people are feeling flat-out drained right now. But if you’re looking to understand why you’re feeling so utterly worn out these days, the below explanations could be a start."

"Intimate friendships don’t come with shared social scripts that lay out what they should look like or how they should progress. These partnerships are custom-designed by their members. Mia Pulido, a 20-year-old student at Drew University, says that she and her soul mate, Sylvia Sochacki, 20, have cobbled together role models in what has felt like a Frankenstein process: Through reading about intimate female friendships from centuries ago, the pair discovered a framework ...for a relationship that doesn’t neatly fit the contemporary labels of romantic or platonic. They found their complementary personalities reflected in the characters Sherlock and Watson, and they embraced the casual affection (and the terms of endearment Bubble and Spoo) that they came across in a note between a wife and husband; it was tucked into a used book they found at a garage sale. Pulido has found it freeing to build a relationship around the needs and desires of Sochacki and herself, rather than having to work through this mire of what society has told you this relationship consists of." https://www.theatlantic.com//people-who-prioritize/616779/

"This is me. No physical addiction. No real outward consequences, except my mental health was taking a hit. My world wasn’t as bright as it should have been. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew a few things. On nights that I didn’t have two, three, or four glasses of wine, I didn’t wake up with anxiety for no reason at 3am. On nights I did have wine, I felt off my A-game the next day; generally blah, less focused, and less present. I also began noticing myself getting resentful when something or someone got in the way of my self prescribed self-care (friends, drinking wine almost every night of the week is NOT self-care). And for the cherry on top it is perhaps the worst kept secret that the leaves of my family tree are soaked in alcoholism."

If you've experienced trauma, you may need: * MORE sleep than most people * long term therapy even after 'processing' the experience * a routine that values gentle movement * space to check out of social events and recharge... * to take breaks during arguments or intense emotional experiences * more time to get to know someone before trusting them -LindsayBraman

Sensory Overload: Parent Edition - I'm having a hard time focusing with all the simultaneous sounds - Everyone wants to be physically close to me and I just need a bit of space - Does that TV have to be so loud? - Is it really hot in here or is it just me? I'm so uncomfortable ... - There are toys scattered everywhere and I can't ignore it - I can't unsee the mess in my home - I can't take a call when all I hear is my kids arguing in the background - What's that smell? I can't find the source of it and it's driving me up the wall. See more

"In acknowledging safety as an essential part of intimacy, and in examining how our environment affects our sense of safety, Ernst believes we can deepen our connections with others. He created the Routes of Safety model to help others understand how we get to and access safety." https://www.healthline.com//mental/routes-of-safety-model