September can feel like a freight train — one minute we’re soaking in slow summer days, the next we’re launched into high speed. Back to school. Back to routines. Wrestling kids out of bed. Racing to practices, lessons, and games. Holding down your job, keeping everyone fed, and trying to keep your sanity intact.
It’s busy. It’s overwhelming. And it’s a lot.
So how do we make it easier — for our kids, our partners, and ourselves?
First, we give ourselves permission to acknowledge the chaos and we extend grace — to ourselves and to the people we love. And we remember that taking time for ourselves is not wasted time. Self-care is family care — the stronger and calmer we are, the better we can show up for everyone.
From there, it’s about creating big connections in little moments.
Why Connection Matters
Connection is how we tell the people in our lives: You matter. You are important. You are seen.
For kids, connection shapes far more than today’s mood. It builds the inner voice they’ll carry into every classroom, every friendship, every relationship, every challenge in life — the voice that says:
I matter. I have meaning. I am worthy.
When someone feels that sense of importance they’re more likely to be cooperative, helpful, and engaged. Connection isn’t just being in the same room. It’s being present in the same moment — emotionally, mentally, and with your full attention. It’s what keeps us close even when life is pulling us in different directions.
Small Ways to Make Big Connections
1. Morning Snuggle Start
Instead of flicking on the light and rushing your little ones out of bed, try a soft wake-up: a quick snuggle or gentle back rub to start the day with warmth and calm. It’s a small pause that says, I’m here, and you’re safe.
2. Breakfast Table Chats
Turn breakfast into a mini-connection moment. Ask a question like, “If today was a story, what would the title be?” It invites imagination and gentle sharing before the day unfolds.
3. One-on-One Dates
Make chores like grocery shopping special by inviting one child to join you solo. Before hitting the aisles, stop for a little treat—an ice cream cone, a smoothie, or a fun snack. These simple “dates” turn errands into cherished moments.
4. The Goodbye Ritual
Create a fun little phrase, secret handshake, or special wave you say every time you part ways. Keeping it consistent turns every goodbye into a warm, meaningful ritual.
5. Use Technology with Purpose
If you can’t be there in person, send a voice note, a photo, or a funny meme you know they’ll love. Little reminders say, “I’m thinking of you.”

Life in September can pull us in a hundred directions. But connection doesn’t require grand gestures or huge chunks of time. It lives in the laugh you share, the hand you squeeze, the quiet “I’m glad you’re here.”

Those little things? They’re what matter most.

What if it’s time for something gentler and kinder—where you offer yourself the compassion you’ve always hoped for from others? When you choose to be that kindness for yourself, the world often responds in kind. Having your Access Bars run creates a deep connection between you and your body, inviting presence and consciousness without judgment. This awareness lets you receive everything, reject nothing, and unlock your potential to create a life beyond your current limits. If you can imagine it, you can begin creating it today by experiencing an Access Bars session.

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From Resentment to Connection

So much of how we experience parenting comes down to how we frame the demands of raising children. When we see their needs as burdens—viewing bedtime routines, emotional outbursts, or calls for attention as taking away from our time—it can breed resentment. But what if we shifted our lens and saw those moments not as attention-seeking, but as a desire for connection?
What if bedtime snuggles weren’t about losing alone time, but about being present in a season where they still need and want us? What if cutting toast the right way, or using the right coloured cup wasn’t about pickiness, but about helping them feel seen and heard?
These small acts build trust. They create an environment where our children want to talk to us, where they feel safe to bring us the big stuff, the hard stuff. That sense of safety doesn’t happen all at once—it’s built in the little things we do every day—with presence and love
As we shift from the unstructured days of summer into the more demanding routines of the school year, these moments of connection become even more important. The transition can bring anxiety and emotional ups and downs—for us and our kids. But if we approach it with the mindset that our kids are having a hard time, not giving us a hard time, we soften our response.
When they act out, melt down, or speak rudely, it’s rarely about a desire to hurt us. It’s usually about overwhelmed feelings, and not knowing how to cope. Holding that perspective—even just sometimes—can change how we respond, allowing us to lead with empathy rather than frustration.
At the same time, we can’t ignore the adult experience. We, too, get stressed, exhausted, and unwell. Parenting with empathy doesn’t mean showing up perfectly—it means showing up consistently. And when we do that with kindness and respect, something beautiful happens; on the days we can’t, our children often show up for us.
On those days when we’re too tired to read a story, too sick to make breakfast, or too overwhelmed to respond gently, we see the fruits of our effort. Our child might read to us instead. They might pour their own cereal—and even get some for a sibling. They might give us grace when our tone slips, because they’ve learned that kindness and understanding go both ways.
Parenting is demanding—and also incredibly temporary. The very things that wear us down today may be the things we’ll miss tomorrow. Many of these tasks we’ll do anyway—so why not do them with presence, joy, and love?
This doesn’t mean we do everything or give in to everything. It means finding the balance between meeting needs and building independence. Between showing up and letting go. Between boundaries and warmth.
Because ultimately, parenting is less about the tasks we complete—and more about the relationships we build.

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