I have been taking a touchy feely squishy warmy Nurturing the Nurturer/Teaching the Teacher/Parenting the Parent class through work for the past eight weeks. I thought it would be life changing and transcendental and magical and I would have some profound answers and insider tips and my life would come to some sort of peaceful lull and Jake would be wonderful and calm.

Not quite.

We are using a text in which I am finding great comfort (read: I might be normal after all!!), and I wanted to pass it along to you. The book is called Growing Up Again and it is geared toward parents who weren't fortunate to have moms and dads who subscribed to the June and Ward Method of Parenting. I haven't read the whole thing so I can't tout this as my new gospel, but I do like the fact that it guides parents along while respecting the need for parents to take care of themselves and to meet their own needs so that they can care for and meet their children's needs. I don't know about you, but I'm all about catering to my inner child.

There is a section near the back that addresses ages and stages of children, and tells parents what to do to foster development during these milestones. Good enough, right? Sure, but the book goes on to describe some behaviors and feelings that parents may exhibit or experience that indicates that their needs weren't fully met when they were little, and what can be done to fill that void. For example, you may feel compulsive, reluctant, depressed, indulgent, selfish, untrusting, and so forth, and you can try taking baths with a full belly, eating comfort foods, rocking in a chair, taking naps with a sheet over your face, spending (non-sexy) heart-to-heart time with someone you trust, and so on to help you feel better. And of course they include the caveat of seeking therapy if necessary. Sounds good to me. Cheesy and corny, sure. But good.

Now if I can only find the time to curl up to nap in the tub with a sheet over my head and a feedbag of mashed potatoes strapped to my face and a white noise machine by my side. I'd be the sanest girl ever.