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Jennifer Schmitt's avatar

Guen, can you please do an article with a full

House tour??

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Right?! That’d be so cool! @Guen Bradbury

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Guen Bradbury's avatar

I did have a youtube video on this but then I have a very interfering neighbour who reported us to Social Services (who said "great house, clearly great for the children, people don't know what neglect looks like, case closed") but that did spook me a bit! There's a picture of the gym rings in the living room in this post: https://guenbradbury.substack.com/p/why-hanging-by-the-arms-helps-children?r=4bpym1

and if you're in the UK, you should come say hi!

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Guen Bradbury's avatar

Also, our house was the subject of an architect's PhD which is nearly published, so I can share that when it is! :D He came and observed how we and the children used the house - he was looking at how "higher friction" homes and neighbourhoods deliver movement and social benefits!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Wow this is so cool!! You’re a superstar.

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Omg so sorry this happened to you. So glad you resolved it quickly.

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Erin Miller's avatar

So much practical and possible wisdom here. Thanks for pulling all of this together! Grateful to be included. 🧡

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks for participating, Erin! And sharing your secret. It was a joy to collaborate with you!

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Chanel Riggle's avatar

My favorite self care hacks include waking up at the unlawful hour of 4:30 am to try getting some scripture/ writing/ or fictional book reading time in my day.

I also believe having a basic drip coffee machine setup the night before and using the timer start feature is self care!

In the early days I had a mom friend who let my ultra depressed self sit in her yard or couch while she did life with her two boys. It was a very come as you are friendship that saved me.

Lastly, I hum. It’s become a self soothing habit that hopefully doesn’t backfire socially but when I am STRESSED in the car or getting my four year old somewhere it helps for me to hum. It changes your breathing patterns and feels like white noise to me.

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thank you for these! 4:30! Now that’s a goal!! And I love that “come as you are” friendship vision— so life-giving. I’ll have to try the humming! Usually I make up weird songs and pretend to be Mary Poppins, lightens any mood and makes the kids laugh.

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Guen Bradbury's avatar

There are some great papers on how humming increases nitric oxide in your breath (up to 15 times!), which opens the blood vessels in your lungs and makes gas exchange better. And there's a fantastic case study on a person who had a chronic sinus infection and cleared it by humming ferociously! Just a few biology facts to increase your appreciation of humming (I consult for the innovation departments of big companies and have done a few big pieces of work on breathing.) :D

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Chanel Riggle's avatar

You should write about these studies! Thank you for sharing ❤️

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Oh yes! I need to do humming too… sounds super healthy and soothing. Thanks for the insight! Maybe you’ll do a humming piece?

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Juliana S.'s avatar

Loved listening to all the tips!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks, Juliana! So glad you enjoyed. Thanks for being here and reading!

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Profound Autism Mom | Sarah's avatar

Thank you for this reframe. These micro-practices are the spa days. They’re just wrapped in real life. Love, the mom of profoundly autistic kiddos who definitely believe in the power of the hoodie walk once around the block 💪🏼

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks for reading and being here and supporting this work. 💜 It means more than you know. And yes, these micro-practices add up and make a big difference for us (and the whole family).

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Melissa Jacobs's avatar

Love these. Had never heard of tapping but just tried and hell to the yes!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Yay! So glad it worked for you. Tapping is on my list to try too. Now I can’t wait to give it a go. Thanks for being here and reading!

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Profound Autism Mom | Sarah's avatar

Tapping needs to be awarded the NPP in my house! Isn’t it so good to feel so good tapping? 😂 🥰

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Stephanie Spaulding's avatar

Yes, #8 has been a total game changer for me! Great read!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Yes I need to get more consistent with that one! Any tips? And thanks so much for reading! Means a lot.

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Stephanie Spaulding's avatar

I’ve only been consistent for the past month. I wish I could give a great tip, but my body naturally wakes up earlier and it helps that I go to bed pretty early as well.

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Good to know. I think with practice, I’ll get there too. It’s just about getting up right when my body is awake or the alarm goes off (that’s usually my sticking point) but I’m getting better.

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Jenna Michael's avatar

So grateful to have been a part of this! What a great list!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks, Jenna! Loved collaborating with you on this!

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Ana Harrison's avatar

Thanks for including me, Jenna! I loved all the other tips and will definitely be trying some of them.

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks, Ana! It was so great to work with you on this!

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Lindsey Schiferl's avatar

So grateful to be included in this! Loved seeing all the tips and am definitely walking away with a few new ideas to try (because let’s be real, my current “self-care” is finishing my coffee before it gets cold). I love this kind of realistic encouragement!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks, Lindsey! It was a joy to include you in this! I'm gonna be doing a lot more hoodie walks now!

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Ana Harrison's avatar

Another little tip I love: I pour my coffee into one of those insulated takeaway cups, even when I’m just at home. It keeps it hot for at least an hour… game changer!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Oh I totally agree… my husband got a free Yeti from work and I use it every day now! Coffee stays hot and it’s so luxurious haha.

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Taylor Blair's avatar

Loved these ideas! Beautifully constructed as well, feels like a little mom group just helping each other out.

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Thanks, Taylor! That means a lot. That’s the vibe I’m trying to go for! You put it so well. Thanks for reading and being here. 💜

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Istiaq Mian's avatar

This from Lindsey was funny "The point is to be in my own head before the world starts yelling at me" yep, not long after I wake up do I hear screaming!

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Alicia Briscoe Navarro's avatar

I love this so much! We need bigger societial conversations about how to better support parents but we also need practical advice for right now because honestly, SOS. lol

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

right?! 😂 this comment made me lol and clap. You’re so on point. 👏

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Georgina Lucy Howard's avatar

Yes to the early nights, essential! And I’m just waiting for my toddler to be out of the 4.30/5am wake up phase 🤯 and then I’ll be up before him. Miss that quiet time before the kids emerge so much!

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Yes! There’s a season for it and you’re almost there. Bravo! You’re doing a lot! Quiet coffee hour coming soon.

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Georgina Lucy Howard's avatar

I can’t wait ☕️☺️

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Alicia Briscoe Navarro's avatar

I thought I'd be doing that too but, honestly, now I just wake up at 7 with him and enjoy the extra sleep. Maybe one day 😊

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Georgina Lucy Howard's avatar

I was banking on that window for a bit of ‘me time’ - mind you extra sleep falls in that category I guess 😅

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Alicia Briscoe Navarro's avatar

It varies so much person to person depending on what you prioritize. Right now, sleep is my priority. Lol

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Haylee Gernert's avatar

Love this. Recently I was asked "what do you do for you?" And my answer was a bunch of little things. I find peppering in all the little joys make me feel better then a giant joy

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Jenna Jonaitis's avatar

Totally! It’s the day to day that adds up. Thanks for the reminder to keep adding joys! And thanks for reading and being here 💜

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Safiya's avatar

Love these tips! Self care looks so different in this chapter of motherhood, I love how creative some of the ideas were 😊

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