Boating with jungle cats is not recommended on this list, but this study was commissioned to support the “Life of Pi” movie release earlier this year. Thanks, Life of Pi marketers! Cool research.

Apparently, if you want to live a “full life,” the most important elements are not worrying about money, and not worrying about what other people think of you.

Seriously, if I could never again worry about money or what other people thought of me, I’d be a happy ameobic blob, floating around the city of Toronto with bare feet, eating from the Smoke’s Poutine truck and returning home to drink wine when the sun went down. OK, so that is the single person version of what I’d do. With kids it might look more like spending the entire day laying in my bikini in the wading pool with a book (complete disregard for adolescent lifeguard’s disdain, of course…), rolling over once in a while, and returning home to drink wine when the children finally passed out in the grass. Anyway, you get the drift.

British researchers recently polled 2,000 English people about the behaviours and achievements they considered essential to happiness. The list is not as far-fetched as you’d think. Less “jump out of an airplane,” more “have a pet” than I would have expected. Also interesting and affirming – the list is much more about experience than material possessions. So the goal of “not worrying about money” (living on poutine is optional) is not necessarily the same thing about never HAVING to worry about money. It’s a state of mind, not a lottery win we’re talking about.

Sadly, only 23% of those polled considered themselves to be living their lives to the fullest, despite the fact that they could specifically name the things that could make that happen.

The averaged person polled has done only 8 of these 50 things. Read the full list below & tell me how many YOU’VE done! 

Then, think about how you can choose 5 for this year that you can either achieve, or start planning to achieve. All night drinking session, anyone?….  

1. Stop worrying about money

2. Stop worrying about what other people think

3. Take two holidays a year

4. Enjoy little comforts in life

5. Experience different cultures

6. Work to live rather than live to work

7. Pay off all debts

8. Be true to yourself

9. Concentrate on what you have instead of what you don’t have

10.Use money on experiences rather than saving for a rainy day

11. Make time for family and friends

12. Try all types of food

13. Find true love

14. Travel to at least 25 different foreign countries

15. Go outside more

16. Learn a new language

17. Be well thought of by family and friends

18. Help a member of your family out when they really need it

19. Lose a stone in weight

20. Treat each day like it’s your last

21. Visit all of Britain’s historical landmarks

22. Book an impulsive last minute holiday

23. Volunteer for a good cause

24. Take up a challenge

25. Go on safari

26. Blow a load of money in one shopping trip, just because you can

27. Learn a new instrument

28. Be married for longer than 20 years

29. Have enough money left for the grandchildren to enjoy

30. Start a family

31. Earn more than your age

32. Have a pet

33. Drive a really fast car

34. Travel alone

35. Be able to keep the kids on the straight and narrow

36. Meet strangers

37. Move away from home to an unfamiliar place

38. Have a one night stand

39. Pass your driving test

40. Get a degree

41. Rescue someone so that you’re a hero for a little while

42. Date someone exciting but completely wrong for you

43. Get a promotion

44. Reach the desired career peak by age 40

45. Have an all-night drinking session

46. Perform something on stage in front of others

47. Snog a stranger

48. Plan a surprise party

49. Embark on adrenaline packed activities such as sky diving or bungee jumping

50. Spend time with children even if they aren’t yours

How many of these have you done? Comment below! Plus, did they leave anything out?…

This is a protein-packed breakfast or lunch that is not only delicious and simple, it can help you slim down for summer and avoid sugar cravings later in the day.

How do I know?

1. Your mother told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, as you know, mothers are always right.

2. I have used my body as a human laboratory of sorts for 13 years and have discovered that a fat- and protein-rich breakfast makes a HUGE impact on my late afternoon and evening energy levels and snackiness. Yes, that is the correct term.

3. A 2005 Study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that women (anywhere aged 25-60 in the study) ate considerably fewer calories later in the day and felt less hungry throughout the day when their breakfasts contained eggs, compared to those who ate the same number of breakfast calories in the form of a bagel.

Now, I know getting eggs first thing in the morning is not always easy. Weekends are egg territory for most of us and on weekday mornings we tend to live in carboland, where lovely coffee-accompanying treats like bagels, cereal, toast & peanut butter (or toast + butter + peanut butter + honey if you are pregnant Dara – let’s not go there…) are quicker and easier when you’re on-the-go.

Saute your veggies lightly before adding to the frittata! This batch: red pepper, spinach & ham.

I am going to fix that! I leave the house between 6:00-6:30 a.m. most days and I neither have time nor appetite before leaving home to cook and eat eggs. So I have included in my Sunday routine just 20 minutes to prep a batch of these delicious muffin-cup frittatas. I vary the content depending on what is in my fridge, waiting to be used up.

I grab two of these with a piece of fruit and I have a fantastic, filling, whole-food breakfast that’s packed with protein and gets me through to lunch, after Belly Bootcamp. When I don’t have them for breakfast, I’ll often reheat a couple of these frittatas with some kale, spinach or other veggies for lunch. They are also a great nighttime snack and an easy addition to your kiddo’s school lunch. Enjoy!

Fluffy Muffin-Cup Frittatas

• 1/2 pound chopped ham, bacon or other leftover breakfast meat from the weekend (optional; organic, low-sodium and/or nitrate-free are preferable)
• 1 – 1 1/2 cups veggies, sauteed lightly
• 9 large eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp melted coconut oil or olive oil
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta or other cheese (again, optional)
• sprinkle oregano
• salt + pepper (easy on the salt, as cheese and meat, if using, will add salt already)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and brush muffin cups with olive or coconut oil. Do not skip the oil as frittatas will stick otherwise. 2. Saute chopped vegetables and cool briefly. 3. Combine eggs, oil, milk, baking powder and any seasoning; beat until frothy. 4. Divide meat & veggies equally among muffin cups and top with cheese. 5. Divide egg mixture among cups – cups should be about 3/4 full. 6. Bake 15-20 minutes, depending on doneness preference for eggs – in my oven, about 17-18 minutes is plenty. They will puff up and then flatten once removed. 7. Remove and cool in pan 5 minutes for easier removal, then use a butter knife to slice around each frittata and remove to baking rack to fully cool, or eat warm!

Now, the real question is… ketchup? salsa? sriracha? 

And here are a few of my other eats – I haven’t posted a “What I Ate Wednesday” for a couple of weeks, so here are a couple of bonus pictures for meal inspiration! Enjoy!

xo

BBQ pork + beef lettuce “burger” with homemade guacamole & balsamic peppers

Chipotle canned tuna on bed of kale, fresh herbs, romaine + tomatoes

BBQ salmon + shrimp with corn on the cob + veg

mom + kids dinner out: pho rare beef + noodle soup and side of veggies, requested with no sauce (oil + water only)

super fast frozen shrimp + fresh veggie stir fry

]]> http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/muffin-cup-frittata/feed/ 0 http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/letter-from-a-mother-to-a-daughter/ http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/letter-from-a-mother-to-a-daughter/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 00:24:21 +0000 admin http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/?p=1507 This spring marks our 5th Belly Bootcamp outdoor season. I can’t believe it’s been 4 full years and already onto the 5th. We’ve had the pleasure of training so many amazing women that I rarely go to a park, farmers’ market or family event without running into at least one of our Belly Bootcampers. I’m always amazed to see their little ones’ growth, as I tend to keep their babies frozen in my mind at whatever age or stage they might have been when we first met.

Seeing other people’s children grow up makes me realize that my children, too, are growing older. 

Seeing my children grow older makes me realize that I, too, am aging.

This Friday my first baby, and favourite girl in the world, will turn six years old. WTF?

my mother & my daughter, 1st birthday

6 is so beyond the baby stage that I feel my head is spinning. Didn’t she just start JK, and now we’re onto actual grades this fall…? Screw that – Didn’t she just ARRIVE? Where has the time gone, and have I used it the best that I could? Have I loved enough, taught enough, cuddled enough, played enough, sung enough, disciplined enough, modelled enough?

While you may not be celebrating a birthday this week, I am sure most of you will be celebrating Mother’s Day. Maybe even your very first Mother’s Day. I hope you will be kind to yourself and enjoy your special day, and reflect on your own mother through the understanding eyes of one who loves her child.

I know now, six years in, that time flies with our little ones but motherhood never stops. 

I know that I appreciate my mother more than ever before in my life. I know she must wake up sometimes and wonder where the last 32 years went, just as I marvel at the passage of 6. Motherhood doesn’t stop just because a child reaches 18 years, or has her own child. At least I hope not, because I plan to hold onto my babies a lot longer than that.

I love this beautiful poem by Guillermo Pena of Spain, and the gorgeous photo that was published with the poem.

Love and hugs to you and your babies and mothers. 

xo

D.

Letter from a Mother to her Daughter

My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.

If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please.  Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story… night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me.  Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day…

The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.

If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant.  Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked.

When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love.  I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared.

With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter.

Original Text in Spanish and Photo by Guillermo Peña.
Translation to English by Sergio Cadena

The BEST results. The MOST fun.

This year is going to be better than ever! Come to a park near you to join us for a trial class and see for yourself why Belly Bootcamp is Toronto’s hottest fitness for modern mommies.

Joining us for Bellies & Strollers this season? Following are the exact meeting points for each location, plus a reminder of what you’ll need to bring to class.

High Park (west): Enter the park at Bloor St./High Park Ave. and meet at the cluster of picnic benches directly between the north and south parking on the ring road. By TTC, exit at High Park station and walk across Bloor St. to enter the park. Parking is available for free at the first lot as you enter from Bloor St.

Trinity Bellwoods/Fred Hamilton Park (central): Meet at the northwest corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park, at Dundas St./Shaw St. By TTC, take the Dundas Streetcar to Shaw St. or take the Queen Streetcar to Strachan and walk to the north end of the park. Parking is available for free along both Shaw St. and Dundas St.

Cedarvale Park (midtown): Meet on the large field next to the Phil White Arena, at 443 Arlington Road, in the center of Cedarvale Park. By TTC, take the subway to Eglinton West station and walk south through the park to the arena, or St. Clair West station and walk north through the park to the arena. Free parking is available at the arena.

Jimmie Simpson Park (east): Meet at the southeast corner of Jimmie Simpson Park, at Queen St./Booth Ave.. By TTC, take the Queen Streetcar to Booth Ave. Metered parking is available along Queen St. E. and free parking is available on nearby side streets.

Woodbine Park/Measurement Park (east): Meet at the northeast corner of Woodbine Park, in the area marked “Measurement Park” near Queen St./Eastern Ave. By TTC, take the Queen Streetcar to Eastern Ave./Kingston Rd. Parking is available for free in the large lot just south of the Green P lot (enter from Eastern Ave.).

We provide the equipment and expertise. Please bring the following items for your use:

• Water
• Clothing in layers so you can remain warm or cool as needed, with a supportive bra
• Comfortable, supportive athletic shoes
• Sunscreen/hat/insect repellent, if desired
• Garbage bag to act as “mat” in case of dampness
• Infant carrier in case baby becomes fussy in the stroller
• Medications/orthopaedic supports you might need
• Snacks/toys/diversions for baby, plus a blanket or mat for baby, if you wish

We run rain or shine! A few notes regarding weather:

• In cases of truly inclement weather, you will receive an email the morning of your class to inform you that class has been cancelled. Cancellations are only in cases of unusually extreme heat, lightning, unusually heavy rain and hail. If you have not received an email, class is on! Make up classes are not awarded in cases of regular summer coolness and/or rain.
• Don’t rely on the morning weather when you wake, or on the forecast. Many times we have seen forecasts of rain or rainy early mornings that turn out to be beautiful sunny workouts, or pleasant, cloudy and cool workouts. Your Belly Bootcamp trainer is armed with an arsenal of effective exercises, even when the ground is muddy and wet.
• Don’t underestimate yourself! Often the cooler days are the easiest on which to exercise – less sweat, less heat. Put a rain cover on your stroller, throw a hat on your head and wear a windbreaker. Within 5 minutes you’ll be warm!
• Don’t wear your best workout clothes to Bellies & Strollers. Whether rainy or dry, dirt, dandelions and grass all await you. Save your most fabulous gear for a walk with your girlfriends or your indoor classes.
• Keep a black garbage bag or two stuffed in the bottom of your stroller. When the ground is a bit damp or just dirty, a garbage bag can act as a “mat” to perform core work and will spare your expensive yoga mat from park mess.

There are a few spots remaining in Bellies & Strollers, although registration is always open and our is expanding soon. Know someone who might like to join you at Bellies & Strollers this spring? Refer a friend to Belly Bootcamp and you’ll receive a free week when she signs up! 

See you at Bellies & Strollers!

The sun is shining and it’s finally starting to get warm in Toronto, and for some reason that made me want greasy fried things… So I drove past the McDonalds that sits 3 blocks from my house and came home to make this bowl of yumminess for lunch. This is a spin on fried rice that is packed with protein, fibre and healthy fat! This will definitely float into my rotation now that I’ve tried it, and I think it would make a fantastic family dinner, beefed up with some shrimp!

I generally cook a pot of my favourite quinoa once per week because it tastes great in leftovers (it has a nice, firm texture but doesn’t harden like rice when it’s cooled so it even tastes good on the go, unheated) and I like to use it with leftover meat for the kiddos’ school lunches. Sometimes there is even some left for me! Because my quinoa recipe includes some seasoning, you can skimp on (or skip) the sodium-laden soy sauce and fish sauce. Or, have a party and throw it all in there! It’s up to you.

Quinoa “Fried Rice”

serves 2

• 1 cup cooked quinoa (recipe here – it takes just 15 minutes & you can prepare the rest while it cooks)
• 2-3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp. canola/sunflower/avocado or other high-heat cooking oil
• 1-2 cups favourite chopped veggies (I used green peas, bell peppers, snow peas, mushrooms & green onions)
• soy sauce and/or fish sauce to taste
• sesame oil for drizzling
• sriracha for hottening!  ;)

1. As quinoa cooks, heat half your cooking oil over high heat in skillet or wok. 2. Add eggs and scramble in pan about 30 seconds until they are cohesive but still a bit wet; remove & set aside. 3. Add remaining cooking oil & heat; then toss veggies (if you are using cold, leftover quinoa add it now so it warms) and cook 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp. 4. Return eggs to pan and cook 1 minute, tossing. Watch the quinoa as it will stick. 5. Season with fish sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil, if desired. Eat!

I recommend you drizzle sriracha on top. And, despite the photos, I did not successfully make it through the entire bowl using chopsticks. If you thought rice with chopsticks was tricky, you haven’t seen anything yet.

And for your voyeuristic pleasure, here are some other eats from my last week… Follow me on Instagram or twitter for more peeks into my life & diet.

blueberry vanilla protein shake

spinach “caesar” salad + garlic turmeric chicken

bbq beef/oatmeal burger with sriracha mayo on lettuce “bun”

When Today’s Parent did their round-up of family fitness activities in Toronto, they chose Belly Bootcamp fitness for modern mommies as their “fitness for moms” option. Very flattering, given all of the fitness options out there these days. They featured our Bellies & Strollers postnatal fitness classes – perfect timing as we are gearing up for another exciting season this May. Check out the upcoming schedule and find a stroller fitness class (or prenatal, or pilates…) near you!

We’ve been working hard for four years to build the best prenatal & postnatal fitness programming in Toronto. It’s great to be recognized. Our mommies already know: Belly Bootcamp delivers the BEST results. Hands-down.

If you want to get in shape, feel strong & energized, and lose fat to reveal a toned physique, you need the total body conditioning of Belly Bootcamp!

there’s Belly Bootcamp trainer Barb teaching in Leslieville last summer!

Thanks for noticing us, Today’s Parent!

And we hope to see some T.P. readers soon at our fun and effective prenatal & postnatal fitness classes.

Try a FREE Belly Bootcamp class at the location nearest you – register for a class with the code:

“TPTRIAL”

to come & see for yourself what makes Belly Bootcamp so special.

a little yolk porn for those of you who get off on that sort of thing…

Everyone is always very curious about how a personal trainer ACTUALLY eats. There are all types of personal trainers with all kinds of eating habits. I’ve worked with trainers who ate all day from strange little containers of seeds, sprouts, veggies and more and virtually never ate anything cooked, let alone prepared. I’ve also worked with trainers who live on Starbucks pastries. It takes all kinds, as they say. But there is a little something to practising what you preach.

I post a lot of my meals on Instagram, and you can follow me there to peek at my day-to-day life and diet, and chat with me, too. I like to chat in between mouthfuls and taking pictures of mouthfuls.

this is me on instagram. kinda like me in real life…

In the tradition of “What I Ate Wednesday,” which is a fitness blogging staple, I’m going to share one of my latest faves with you here on the Belly Bootcamp blog.

I get to eat a hot lunch at home most days of the week, even if that means I defer lunch until 2:00 or 2:30 p.m. to do so. I love a sandwich to go just as much as the next girl, but carbs – in particular, wheat and starchy carbs – at every meal just doesn’t agree with my digestion, my skin or my waistline.

This morning a client, who has been trying to wean herself off a bit of a bread habit complained to me, “When I feel tired I just want some poached eggs on toast.” I heart eggs. I eat them virtually every day, sometimes more than once. So, for my client B, here is my version of poached eggs on toast. Minus the starch, plus loads of antioxidants, fibre, vitamin K, folate and calcium like only leafy greens can provide!

Eggs in a Spinach Nest

• 2 eggs
• 2-3 cups spinach
• sliced onion (optional)
• sprinkle chili flakes (also optional – I like everything SPICY)
• 1 tsp. coconut oil, olive oil or butter
• salt & pepper

Over medium, warm oil & saute onion and chili flakes for a few minutes until softened. Add spinach & stir to moisten. Make a well in the spinach and drop a tiny drizzle of oil in the pan to prevent sticking. Turn the heat down to low-medium. Crack eggs into well and add a few drops of water to the side of the pan to create steam; pop the lid on. Cook just a couple of minutes and eat! Pop your yolks soon as they’ll continue to cook on the plate if left intact.

Here are a few other yummies I’ve had in the past week:

pulled chicken lettuce wrap

baked cod with dill butter

chicken + brown rice soup

natural kimchi – out of the jar

]]> http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/eggs-in-a-spinach-nest/feed/ 0 http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/gluten-free-chocolate-olive-oil-cake/ http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/gluten-free-chocolate-olive-oil-cake/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:56:29 +0000 admin http://www.bellybootcamp.ca/?p=1591 This chocolate olive oil cake is rich in healthy fats and totally gluten-free! It was simple enough to make quickly, with help from my kiddos, tasted delicious, and lasted several days for secret late-night snacking.  :)

This Easter I wanted to bring a dessert to our family pot-luck Easter lunch that would travel well, taste decadent and keep all of our health-conscious relatives happy. My first idea was a custard. Upon realizing I had broken 7 of my 8 ramekins over the years since I last actually baked something in ramekins (I may have mentioned I don’t do very much baking these days?) , I decided on this recipe from April’s Chatelaine magazine, excerpted from Nigella Lawson’s new book, Nigellissima. Then I googled around to find the gluten-free version that Nigella originally concocted and… yum!

Gluten-Free Chocolate Olive Oil Cake (serves 8-10)

source: www.nigella.com

• 6 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups almond flour/almond meal
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• pinch salt

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF & grease a 9″ springform or pie plate with a little olive oil, then line the base with a circle of parchment paper. 2. Whisk boiling water into cocoa until a smooth paste is formed; whisk in vanilla and set aside. 3. In a small bowl, combine almond flour, baking soda and salt. 4. With stand mixer or electric beater, beat sugar, olive oil and eggs until fluffy and pale yellow, about 2-3 minutes. 5. Whisk in cocoa mixture. 6. Whisk in dry mixture gradually, using spatula to combine fully. 7. Pour into tin and smooth; bake 45 minutes until cake tester inserted in centre comes out almost clean. 8. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes, then flip onto rack until completely cooled. 9. Serve warm or room temperature.

We liked it A LOT with some freshly whipped cream. If you’ve never whipped your own cream, try this:

• 1 cup 35% whipping cream
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsp granulated sugar, to taste

Beat on high until soft peaks form (don’t let it go too long or you’ll make butter!). Use immediately.

So it’s not healthy, but it is a great compromise when it’s your turn to bring dessert, and a fantastic recipe to add to your gluten-free repertoire if you are limiting grains and starches or joining a health-conscious pot-luck meal.

Enjoy it this weekend with your peeps!

xo

So cook at home!

Some of my favourite recipes have come from UK chefs Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, but converting metric to imperial, or vice versa, forces me to pull out my laptop during cooking… which means I have food all over my laptop. This makes my husband roll his eyes. Also, apparently Apple does not include “olive oil damage” in my warranty.

Instead, print and stick this handy dandy Kitchen Cheat Sheet to your fridge (or tuck it into your recipe file) for easy reference. If you have a question that is not answered by this cheat sheet, I will personally do 10 push ups – just comment below.  ;)

Now, starting cooking yourself up a six-pack!

If you’d like to find a printable version of this cheat sheet, visit the Everest site.

Wholeplay founder & educational director, ME Picher

Look around you.  Are there crayon marks on your walls?  What about tiny, little fingerprints on your computer screen?  If you answered, “yes” to either one of those questions, you might have a tiny, little problem saying “no.”

In my experience, most parents (including myself) have trouble saying, “no,” for the following reasons:

• Exhaustion.  We’re simply too tired to put up a fight, (or put down a foot).
• Exploration.  We’re afraid of squelching our kids’ inherent genius and creativity.
• Distraction.  We’re so absorbed in our own worlds, (which are usually of the “virtual” variety) that we don’t even notice that we should’ve said, “no” until it’s too late.  (Confession:  Last week I spent five minutes fishing my Blackberry out of the hole of my guitar because I hadn’t realized my son had: (a) got hold of the device; and (b) gotten a hold of my guitar).
• Cuteness.  We’re so enamored by how cute they look getting into trouble that we can’t resist watching the disaster unfold.

And finally, probably the number 1 reason we struggle to say “no…”

• Insecurity.  We equate saying “no” to our children with being a bad or mean parent, and the last thing we, as parents, want to be known as is bad or mean.

And so we end up saying “yes” or, more accurately, not saying “no” even though the result of our inaction is rarely happy, grateful children. What is the result of not setting appropriate limits for our children enough? Anger. Because, eventually, the circumstances arise which require us to say “no,” regardless of how checked out and tired we are, or how brilliant and adorable they are.

saying “no” when appropriate will actually help PREVENT tantrums!

For example, when your sixteen-month-old wants to explore the shiny, dimpled surface of a cheese grater, you have to say “no.” If your child has had limits set for him on a fairly consistent basis, he will (for the most part) relinquish the object without much fuss. But if your child hasn’t had limits set for him on a fairly consistent basis? You’re most likely going to have a fight on your hands.

But here is an even better reason to set appropriate limits for our kids:  It’s actually a kind thing to do.   Because deep down inside, (even when they don’t know it), it’s what our kids not only need, but also desperately want. It lets them know that they’ve got someone watching out for them, and that someone’s in charge so they don’t have to be.

It’s only then that they can truly let go and explore.

Mary Elizabeth, or M.E. for short, is Co-Founder and Educational Director of Wholeplay.  She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and has worked extensively in the field of Children’s Mental Health, specializing in the areas of early childhood development, positive parenting and healthy attachment. M.E., the primary facilitator of all Wholeplay’s classes, has provided individual and group support to hundreds of parents and young children.