Dear friends all over the world;­­

Today is the Christmas Eve. For my husband Christian and I, this is a very important day in a sense that we love to make it special for our children (3 and 5 years old). Christian and I have the most beautiful memories from our childhood of Christmas Eves; we would like the same for our children and try our best to make it happen.

We have protected all the “big lies” about Santa Claus, the carriage, the reindeers… etc. In the area I grew up in it is the Christkind (Christ child), not Santa Claus, therefore we sometimes have to make up stories to put them together (“well, Santa Claus prepares the gifts and the Christkind helps him deliver them”…etc). Santa Claus also brings presents to adults; he passes by the grandparents’ house, decorates the tree therefore the living room is locked till Christmas mornings. We place milk and cookies in the entrance of the house so that he can eat and once the things are gone (my father in law takes care of that while we are in church), we know that Santa Claus was there. It’s probably more familiar to the Americans than to the Germans, but now you’ve got the idea. (more…)

Hello, my dear ones all over the world.

Our son Jonathan is here : ) : ) : )  Hurray!  He was born on the 29th of September. He is lying next to me inside his hanging-cot, looking very peaceful. He is very cuddly and sometimes I have a hard time just letting him lie on his own. It is such an incredibly nice feeling when he cuddles into me and falls asleep on my tummy. Up until recently, that tummy had been his residence. (more…)

Good morning all!

I’m getting ready to take my son to his second day of Kindergarten. Yesterday morning as we walked, hand in hand, into his new school, he looked up and said:
“I can’t believe it! This is going to be huge!”
So true, Laken.

Today I noticed how much I’ve been holding on to the past, and how that has truly inhibited my ability to enjoy my life. And just now I felt, for what seemed like the first time, a relaxation around judging myself for holding on to the past. Because I’ve resisted my old habit of doing so. I didn’t like that I ruminated about events I can’t change.

But just now I felt a new energy around it. The Instant I saw it, I felt transformed. Lighter.
Thanks Ariel & Shya – and to all of you.
And have a beautiful day!

Alex

Dear friends,

I have a little story to share.

My daughter is twelve now and cleaning up her room – as well as some other basics – is really a challenge at the moment. (more…)

Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, I asked my son Milan how he wanted to celebrate his birthday this year. His answer was such a sweet unexpected surprise!

He said that for his birthday, he’d like to create a Business Meeting with his friends. He would set up an executive table (with tall red chairs) where he and his friends could talk about business. They would then create artwork and posters and sell the artwork in the park. He also may sell “Smash” – a drink he “invented” made of orange juice and seltzer. (more…)

Dear friends,

I had noooooo idea…..about the degree to which my upsets where running my life. Not the least idea. I came back from this wonderful workshop in Cambridge with Ariel and Shya and of course I had realized that “something” had happened. I hoped for “something” to be different after my return, but I would never ever have expected such a profound difference.

I came home on Sunday night and the first thing I realized on Monday morning was the trigger of an upset. It was like a little “beep” inside me, something jumping, but then….nothing. A few moments later the next little “beep”. And the day went on like this. I was flabbergasted by the sheer quantity of little triggers throughout the day. I didn’t count but there were MANY of them. And for the first time I understood what Ariel and Shya mean by “mechanic behavior”!!!! Because it just happens at a trigger, but the trigger is no real reason. I used to get upset about a thousand things that are no “real reasons” or justifications to get upset. It hurt a little to see that I have also “considered” my children to be a cause of upset. This week I’ve actually been able to be with my kids and weather through difficult situations without getting upset. It is actually almost a strange feeling. It feels as if I had been drugged or doped. Tranquilizers or something. It’s so funny because there is even a kind of a little man inside myself (I picture it that way) really furious about me not getting upset. And it’s also sometimes even leaving me a little uncertain. I am in a traffic jam. I don’t get upset. What am I going to do??? . (more…)

It all started in Costa Rica. Actually it started just after the completion of the Kanes’ Costa Rican Adventure 2010, which was the best ever, by the way. Although I was inspired and really wanted to go again in 2011, I had hesitated to sign up for Costa Rica next year, because I didn’t want to register without letting my 16-year-old daughter Ayla in on my decision first. This past year, when I had let Ayla know I was going, she had pouted for a week or more because I hadn’t consulted her before committing to go.  I had actually hesitated before telling her because I was afraid she might disapprove!

On the way to my room to get my luggage before heading home, I ran into Ariel and Shya on one of the beautiful covered walkways and we started chatting.  When I outlined my dilemma, they pointed out that what I was actually doing was to ask my daughter for her permission to go to Costa Rica again and that it is I who is the mother who needs to say what’s going on – not vice versa. They said that I was trying to be Ayla’s friend instead of her mother.  It was not long before I discovered how true this really had been.

(more…)