I LOVE when poetry can be deeply useful. In this thoughtful podcast, aimed at parents of young children who want to be perfect parents, I speak with Sam Shapiro about self-compassion and about my experiences working as a parent educator. Here’s an excerpt from a letter Sam sent out:
Sometimes a conversation hits notes that connect us in ways that stay. Long after we speak the words and the silence returns, the conversation continues in our hearts and minds. Such was my experience of recording this dialogue with parent educator and poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. It continues on.
This is a vital discussion for two key reasons. The first is that Rosemerry is extraordinarily open and perceptive. As she notes, “What we are most interested in with each other is our humanity, not our perfection.” Her voice connects us powerfully with our own inner experience of being alive. The second is that while we touch on a number of important parenting topics, the primary focus of our conversation turned to self-compassion, a practice with the potential to meaningfully benefit our lives and those with whom we relate, including our children.
If you have young children, I hope you’ll listen in or share the interview with a friend who does. You can find it here, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.