Amazing Pregnancy and Parenting

Our next Peaceful Bellies six week series of calls will be starting on February 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm (PST). For more information and to register, go to http://www.alovingway.com/peacefulbelliespregnancy.htm.

Moms are busy people! We know that. This is a powerful SIMPLE program designed to take you inside with yourself AND your baby for 30 minutes a week. You will feel more connected and more in tune with what is happening than you could imagine. You will find yourself feeling more confident, peaceful and grounded.

Come join us! And, tell your friends!

A Loving Way, www.alovingway.com, 800-647-1171, info@alovingway.com.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” W.C. Fields

We have all heard this quote before. Last year I was in a personal growth course where they said, “Ask six times.” It made me think of this quote, and also caused me to wonder why most people do not ask several times, and why we train our children to stop asking.Think about it for a moment … when your kids ask for something, how many times do you “allow” them to ask before getting upset and annoyed? Is it once, twice, three times? Could it be SIX times? Probably not. We actually teach our children NOT to ask, not to persist, not to persevere to get what they want. I’m not talking about being harassing or making demands. I’m talking about healthy requests, asking for what they want. If you think about it, this is exactly what happened to us. We were told to stop asking.Keeping that in mind, I would ask you to consider to yourself, “How has that served me?” Do you go for a job interview and take the first “no” and stop there? Do you ask your friends or family for what you need and stop asking if you don’t get it the first time? Do you call on an ad to buy something, and if they don’t answer or call you back, do you drop it?Sometimes people get busy. Sometimes people are in a mood. Sometimes the timing is bad. Sometimes there is no reason at all that we get the response (or no response) that we get. If we stop asking, then we give up; we move on. What if we persevered and continued asking for what we want? What if we had that mentality, the thought that it IS okay to keep asking? If you don’t get the job you want, ask again! If you don’t get the return call you’re looking for, call again! Call six times. Ask six times. Be authentic. Be true to you. Be respectful. Keep asking!This is something that we undo in our children. We teach them NOT to ask more than once. “No means no.” Well, sometimes that is true. What if, however, instead of condemning them for asking again, we actually praised them for their persistence and applaud them for their focus, drive, enthusiasm, creativity, flexibility, and passion! In life, we DO need to ask for what we want. And, sometimes we have to ask many times in order to get it. That is SO okay!So, this month, and for the year ahead, let’s make a new rule … asking is a great thing. Smile at your kids, applaud them for their passion and persistence, and still answer with whatever the answer is. No pressure. No anger. Just acceptance of what is. You don’t have to change. And … you may change. The day may bring new information. You never know. Sometimes we can’t give something today, but in two days we would be happy to give that. What if they NEVER asked again? They would learn that they must give up on their dreams, their goals, their passions. We do not want to create that for them. Have you given up on your dreams, goals and passions?So, smile and be GRATEFUL that your children have the spunk to ask, ask, and ask again. They are learning to be creative, persistent, focused, and they are learning that it is absolutely okay to dream AND okay to not get everything right now. There are many wonderful lessons to learn in this experience.I challenge YOU to begin ASKING SIX TIMES for the things YOU want. Reignite your dreams, your visions, your passions. ASK AGAIN! Doors are opening all the time!

Remember … “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” Vince Lombardi

Traci Gaffney has three children, is a parenting coach, speaker and author, and is the Founder of A Loving Way, a Wellness Advocacy for Children and Parents (www.alovingway.com). She can be reached at 800-647-1171or tracigaffney@alovingway.com.

There is no job quite like that of being a mother. I remember when I brought my first son home from the hospital, being in somewhat of a state of shock that they actually let me go home without a nurse! I wondered what made me automatically able to care for a brand new baby 7/24. How could they just assume I would be good at this new job? Well, 19 years later, with my oldest son now in his first year of college, I have found that instinct and intuition come in very handy!

There are so many opportunities to celebrate motherhood:

• At the point when we find out we are pregnant, it’s a time to celebrate that we have been chosen by another soul as a guide in their journey of life. What an awesome honor that is!

• When we give birth … wow! If you have an opportunity to give birth without an epidural, and REALLY connect with your body, your instinct, AND your baby ~ creating partnership and cooperation ~ that is the most empowering and exhilarating experience I have ever had!

• Breastfeeding … the pain I felt for the first two weeks (with each of my babies), and thinking it would never end, and then like magic, it disappeared and we shared bliss for two to three years each! Breastfeeding is one of the most joyous and deepening experiences there are. To stop everything in your life and only focus on nurturing and loving this beautiful innocent being right there in front of you … what a gift for both mommy and baby!

• As our children go through their milestones, their heartaches, their victories, we celebrate, we cry, we love, and we support. There is nothing like being a mother. There is nothing like the connection and the bond that come with this job. There is nothing like knowing in your deepest core of who you are, that you would do anything for this human being, and there is nothing that could stop you from that drive. There is a love, a commitment, an adoration, and a joy that cannot be expressed except through experience.

For those of you who are embarking on motherhood for the first time, or if you already are fully engaged in raising children, every moment is a wonderful time to celebrate! These beautiful, precious children are here for such a short time under our wings, and then they must fly. May we celebrate motherhood, and teach our children to celebrate life, love and laughter. Let’s raise the vibration of this planet by starting with our children, by starting with our core.

May you find joy in every experience of your journey and the journey of your children. May the tears only serve to bring you deeper and closer to the core of who you are, who your children are, and to the essence of the very Source of Life. May you feel the love of all mothers. May you enjoy the blessings of connection and contribution. Celebrate motherhood at every possible moment, for we never know what tomorrow may bring.

In Love and Gratitude for this Awesome Gift!

Traci Gaffney is the mother of three children, and the Founder of A Loving Way, a Wellness Advocacy for Children and Parents (www.alovingway.com). She is a Parenting and  Life Coach, Speaker and Author, with an extensive background in energy healing.   She can be reached at  800-647-1171  or tracigaffney@alovingway.com.