**THROWBACK POST**
July 24 2012:
Big shout out to everyone who has watched and shared the “D iz for Different” Book Trailer … it’s nearly at 500 views!! YAY!!! Grateful times a million!
Here’s a picture of my helper, Lillian, getting books ready to mail … and here’s a link to the trailer … it’s just a little over a minute long …
**THROWBACK POST**
November 6 2013:
Lillian had a melt down a few mornings ago complete with she’s moving out, she hates it here and calling Thomas and I idiots. Once she calmed down, she asked in a different, quiet, deep and more mellow voice, “Camilla, will you please help Lillian get back to herself”.
I said, “Absolutely!”, and asked how I could help? Then I helped her get dressed. Later I asked who it was that asked me to help get her back to herself. She told me her name, which I forgot, and said that she was a professional ballet dancer. I said that it was very kind of her friend to come along and help her get through that rough moment …
Lillian has these melt downs about 1 to 4 times per week. Usually it’s when we are getting ready to leave for school or anywhere else. She does not like to be rushed and reminded to complete the next step of getting ready. I choose to mostly ignore her unkind comments as I know that’s not the true Lillian.
The more I do not acknowledge the melt down and the more I remain calm the sooner she is able to bring herself back to the true Lillian. I am so truly grateful for all that this beautiful little soul has taught me about myself and life! xoxo
November 13 2017:
The key for me has been the understanding that I have no idea what I’m doing … HA! ….
Improvising like crazy; and, in fact, letting myself BE Crazy! Along with finally understanding if something comes from my heart, it is always to be trusted and the right thing to do.
And as much as possible not giving a hoot what anyone else thinks … xoxo
May 27 2017:
I highly recommend this book to anyone considering becoming a parent, who is already a parent, and anyone who works with children. Another that came into my life in divine and perfect timing. xoxoxo
Our Children, Our Awakeners
“In my illusion, I thought I was going to raise you
To be whole, complete, and worthy,
To be educated, kind, and wise,
To be a leader, empowered and free.
I was deluded to think I knew it all,
fooled by my age and might.
I thought I had it all together,
Ready to teach, inspire, and change you.
Only now, after so many moments
With you
Do I realize how foolish these ideas were,
How baseless and grandiose.
I now understand ….
That it is you who is here to teach me,
To guide, lead, shift, and elevate,
To transform, awaken, and inspire
Me.
I now realize how I had it wrong,
Upside down and outside in,
It is you who are this perfectly designed clarion
To wake me up to my true self.”
A New Commitment to Shedding Expectations
“I shed my expectations and agendas,
Knowing they stem from my small mind-space.
Instead, I will enter my expansive heart-space
And release you from meeting my needs,
Expecting only that I do this for myself.
When I see you, I will no longer reflect
My fears, insecurities, longings, and drama.
Instead, I will clear the mental cobwebs
That cloud the shine of your brilliance
So that I can be a mirror of the diamond you are.
As my agendas melt away, so does the hollowness I feel,
Leaving only wholeness in its place.”
April 19 2017:
Every Lesson Learned is Another Flower Planted** Thank you Great Spirit for this beautiful Mother Earth. Thank you for enlightening and awakening lessons disguised as discomfort and failure. Thank you for the timing and opportunity to learn the depths of true love …. unconditional love. Unconditional love for self so that I may unconditionally love my children. That these children who are our greatest teachers and awakeners of our true selves know unconditional love and their worth. [ 1,077 more word ]
January 7 2017:
Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number FIVE 2016 CamillaDowns.com blog post with the most views: “The Power and Magic of Connected Parenting” ……. xoxoxoxoxo ……
from the article … “Ever since Thomas was 1 year old we have been going to the library every 2 or 3 weeks. We live as a team rather than a dictatorship. Mostly, I am the team leader, yet I give them many opportunities to lead. We have letting go burning ceremonies every quarter.
We continually talk about why we are here, what are our goals, how are we doing personally and as a family, we make gratitude lists, create yearly vision boards for each of us and one as a family, write “compliment” notes for each other, and we openly discuss and practice mindfulness and emotional connection. We are not typical … and we like it ….. “
“Most people see what is, and never see what can be.” -Albert Einstein
January 3 2017:
Top 10 Countdown! The 2016 blog post on CamillaDowns.com with the most views: Dear Meltdown – The article which was quickly accepted and published by elephant journal.
May this land in front of the one who would benefit from reading it …