Sheryl A. Isaacs MS, LMFT 92557
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 

We were made to need rest. It is during that "down time" that we can recharge our batteries.  Our creativity will get sparked and we will be able to be MORE productive. The right kind of distraction will increase your ability to problem solve.  Who hasn't had the ephipany in the shower while relaxing under the hot water? Time off from work has been shown to increase productivity, willigness to work and create more balance.  Think about that statement in terms of what down time can do for your family. 

During family time we teach our children how to engage with others and bond.  We are modeling for them how to have relationships with others. We will be teaching our kids that they matter, they come first. It gives each member a time to connect with each other and bond during positive experiences. What valuable lessons to teach! 

Midfulness family walk
Look at #5 :)

New Year's Eve is usually a time of reflection.  It can weigh heavily on those of us that seem to have a perfectionistic bone.  As we survey the year, we can tend to beat ourselves up thinking that we didn't accomplish all that we should have.  Somehow we believe that in the midst of our crazy lives that we should have done more. This is a pretty common occurrence.

How can we stop the New Year madness? 
We need to take a realistic view of our lives for the past year.  Here are ten questions that can help you take a realistic inventory of the past year.

1. What challenges did we face?
2. What things occurred that were out of our control?  
3. What did we accomplish? 
4. What would we have liked to have done differently? 
5. What were last year's high points and triumphs?
6. How did we manage to get through the lows?
7. What goals did we reach?
8. How were we at utilizing self-care?
9. Were we able to meet our basic needs: food, water, sleep, and connection?
10. What would we say to someone else that faced the same challenges in their past year?

Being able to answer these questions as you reflect will help you look at the bigger picture of the past year. Taking a step back and reviewing the year will help you get a balanced view. 

I find it more helpful to think of resolutions as goals that I want to move towards in the new year.  Be sure that any goals you set are attainable.  It is better to think in terms of "baby steps" and then adjust your goals as you are successful.

Below are some free printable to help your children learn to reflect on the past year and set appropriate goals. 

Looking forward to a wonderful new year, learning from the past and moving forward! :)

Free printable to share you Favorite Moments with your family. 

Free Family Goal Sheet to do with your Children

I thought that I would share a little bit of what my husband and I have done to create our own "self-care" space outside. For myself, a self-care space is about having a space that brings a smile to your face. I love sayings that are encouraging, knick-knacks and color. My husband loves fountains and fish. Anything that makes us smile and calms our spirit are things that we included in the space. 

My husband is a huge fan of fountains, so we have several in our outside space. We started with one many years ago and have added more through the years. I tend to love bright colors and things that are cute or unique. I have collected different ceramic pieces that I enjoy. I am always on the look out for more unique pieces that that speak to me that I can add. The yard was drab so we added potted plants to add color.   We found some unique solar items on sale that turn on at dusk and add a pretty cool effect :) The bistro table was exactly what I was looking for with chairs that are high enough that they are easy to get in and out of and make it possible to type at the table.  There is also a half-wine barrel that we turned into a small fish pond. 

We have our grandsons over a lot so we needed a yard that is play friendly too. The boys love to feed the birds and squirrels that the fountains attract. They also help Papa clean the fish pond when they can and feed the fish.   The chiminea is perfect for roasting marshmallow and eating s'mores.  Our space has become a place that we can create memories with those that we love which helps increase the "feel good" of our space for us. 

Whether I sit at the table in the kitchen and look out in the yard or sit at the table in the yard, I can feel connected and calm. I find the water sound soothing and it helps me to focus on my writing.  When my mom or the girls come over it is a wonderful place to sit and visit. 

We can lose sight that our home should be our refuge, a place of calm and peace where we can recharge. When we  take the time to make that space with the things we love and enjoy we are creating a "climate of self-care"  within our home. We will find that we destress naturally and gravitate towards those things that nourish our soul. 

Remember creating that space is about finding those things that are calming and relaxing to you.  
Everyone's space is going to be different because we are unique individuals! 

Ask yourself:
What makes me smile?
What calms my spirit?
What helps increase my creativity?  


Those are the things that you want to include in your space. Make it yours! Own that space and most importantly be creative in the process! 

I must say that I had crocheted many years ago and then quit.  Recently I have been trying to focus on reducing stress, increasing creativity and self-care.  Then I remembered…I used to love to crochet!  I needed to find something that would not be too difficult and would allow for many interruptions…as I have four grandsons and am working at a counseling center!

I ran into a few different stitches that were considered “mindless” and tweaked them a bit. So far I have made seven Afghans.  I have used six -8 oz skeins in various colors for each afghan.  For my grandsons I chose six different shades of their favorite color. I just used each shade until I was unable to finish another row and then changed to the new shade.  They turned out quite nice.

The first pattern is very pretty and the second pattern utilizes less yarn. The second pattern also has less “holes” throughout.

Pattern One

You must make the foundation chain in increments of three.

Row One: Two double crochet in fourth chain from hook, chain one, single crochet in same chain. Skip two chains then repeat STITCH (two double crochet, chain one, single crochet).  Continue in pattern across foundation chain.

Row Two: Chain three, complete stitch in first chain space. Continue pattern across row.

Repeat row two until desired length.

Pattern Two

Foundation chain is made in increments of two.

Row one: Single crochet in second chain from hook, half double crochet (Yarn over insert hook into chain, yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook) in next chain. Repeat PATTERN (Single crochet, half double crochet) across foundation chain.

Row Two: Chain one then do alternate stitch in stitches across row. (i.e., If the stitch is a single crochet you work in a half double crochet, if the stitch is a half double crochet you work in a single crochet.)

Repeat row two until you have reach desired length.

That’s all there is to it! Super simple and it is next to impossible to get lost if interrupted.  Have fun and enjoy some self-care!