This is the heart of it all for me. I can talk about this for an hour or for an entire day. No matter what stage or what relationship we’re talking, it all comes down to this: connection. It is in these connections with others that the most important question on the planet is answered: “Am I worth it?”.
Talking about the importance of relationships began in my work with educators. But, that’s not where it ends. First, we need to recognize that we’re all in (important, life-saving, world-altering, sometimes thunder-making) relationships—that includes police officers and emergency services personnel; foster parents and child care providers; administrators and policy makers. Second, we need a “shared language” that includes networks and strategies to support our babes who struggle the most , the families who hold them, and those doing the holy work of connection. See, what drives it all for me are found in the words of Ram Dass: “We are all just here walking each other home”.
The biggest challenge facing each of us “these days” is that we’ve never been more disconnected, making it harder than ever to determine if we really, truly matter in this world. By exploring the most recent research on attachment and emotional regulation, I share what’s most critical in, first, helping our children learn how to manage emotions and, later, what that looks like in our friendships, marriages, and most importantly, in ourselves.