by Cecilia Hilkey | compassion, parenting, research
When most parents think of “secure attachment”, we focus on the connection between a parent (usually the mother) and a child. We recently had a conversation with Dr. Dan Siegel, and the way he described attachment blew our minds. He explained that, because humans have...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting, research
This morning I watched a little bird from my bedroom window. The bird was all by itself, sitting in the hundred-year-old oak tree in our backyard. As I watched it, it taught me something really important about being a parent–and being a human–that is backed by...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting, research
Dr. Dan Siegel summarized the results of many studies saying that “The strongest predictor of a child’s wellbeing is a parent’s self-understanding.” But what does it actually mean to have self-understanding? And how is self-understanding going to help my kids handle...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting, research
A lot of us feel alone, as parents. It’s not easy for you or your kids… However, there are many things that bring me hope. One of them is my mom’s amazing homemade BBQ sauce. We all called it “secret sauce”. I wanted to put secret sauce on everything… ice cream,...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting, research
I am naturally a worrier. I worry about parenting…. Are my kids are going to turn out okay? Will they do okay in school? Am I doing enough for them? Did they eat enough? Are they getting enough sleep? And I worry about everything else… Are the plants doing okay? Are...read more
by Cecilia Hilkey | parenting, research
Do you ever find yourself thinking, “There’s so much I want for my kids… to be happy, do well in school, have friends, be resilient. But where do I start? What are the most important things to focus on?” When kids are struggling (with bedtime, homework, playing with...read more