http://mamadharma.net one single mother. one spririted preschooler. oy -- what a life. Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:32:33 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've just begun a 10-month online course called Awakening Joy with Buddhist meditation teacher James Baraz and a whole host of guest teachers. As the name would indicate, it's about cultivating happiness, wellbeing, peace, serenity, whatever you call it, in your daily life. I continue to be amazed and humbled ... http://mamadharma.net/2010/02/the-nourishment-list/ As I hear my ex's car pull up to drop off S, I open the blinds. The light goes on in the car. She is sitting there. I don't see her face, I have never seen her face...but I see the toss of a head. Long curly hair. I feel sick. I ... http://mamadharma.net/2010/01/acceptance/ I find myself exhilarated by the early days of TYOLMP...but I also feel a bit alone in it. All of the single parent bloggers I know talk about their evolving relationships, newly-found significant others, their dates, their hook-ups, their ever-hopeful search for connection with another human being. And believe me, ... http://mamadharma.net/2010/01/strange-days/ Thanks to Ms. Single Mama for inspiring this video!! http://mamadharma.net/2010/01/tyolmp-the-video/ Tomorrow will conclude a full seven days spent with my son. A week without work and school, without the typical interruptions that punctuate my time with him. Just the two of us, and our friends, the only family I have. And it has been a beautiful week, for the most ... http://mamadharma.net/2009/12/a-week-with-my-son/ A little over a month ago, I declared 2010 (ok, perhaps a bit early) "The Year of Loving Myself Passionately (TYOLMP)." This is a serious decision for me: a holy vow to really, no-bullshit, truly, honestly shed some layers of self hatred and get down to the business of serious ... http://mamadharma.net/2009/12/the-year-of-loving-myself-passionately-an-update/ Ah, the bitter irony of this life. I was to have a full five days to myself while Sami was at his father's. And what happens? The Snowpocalypse of 2009. All my plans to be a whirling dervish of activity, dashed. It ended up being all good. I just so happened ... http://mamadharma.net/2009/12/the-ice-always-melts/ "I love you more than everything" from Leah Harris on Vimeo. http://mamadharma.net/2009/12/i-love-you-more-than-everything-a-video-tribute-to-4-years-of-mothering-my-guru/ "Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world." Helen Keller As I embark on this path of celibacy and the journey inward, the journey home, I come face to face with blinding  spells of loneliness and self-pity. The old, ... http://mamadharma.net/2009/12/the-pull-of-self-pity/ This blog reminds me more than anything of the principle of impermanence. I went through the grief of the last few posts and came out the other side. Nothing lasts forever. Tonight, I think about how much joy I feel. Connection with my son has never been sweeter. In the last five ... http://mamadharma.net/2009/12/happiness/