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Tips on living a calmer life as a working parent sent to your inbox every weekend
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Pick a Community + Deepen Your Connection |
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Dear Working Parents,
If you're anything like me, you "belong" to a number of communities... maybe professional associations, book clubs, alumni networks, neighborhood or religious or political groups. But the word "belong" doesn't tell me anything about how much interaction you actually have with that community or organization. There are some groups I'm all in on and will participate in any activity I'm humanly able to attend. And then there are others where my name is on a list, yes, but despite every intention of participating in the group, just I haven't. (No guilt, no shame. Just being human.)
Sometimes it's the sheer overwhelm in the number of choices that drives inactivity. When I served on the 403(b) Committee at a health care trade association where I used to work, I learned that if you give employees too many investment options for their retirement funds, they simply don't contribute to their retirement at all! With communities, too, it often isn't a case of "the more options the merrier." I'd been aware of dozens (maybe scores?) of groups to help women entrepreneurs owners grow their businesses. But it wasn't until someone put the names of just a few in front of me, that I decided to join one.
And gosh I am so grateful for the joy that comes from participating more deeply and fully, rather than sitting on the edges!
Today, I'd like to invite you to make a list of 3 communities you might like to deepen your connection to this year. And I'm officially inviting you to include Mindful Return as one of those communities on your list of choices. Then, pick one and dive in!!
How to deepen your connection to the Mindful Return community of working parents, you may be asking?
Years ago, at the request of the parents who had been through our parental leave courses, we developed a program called Mindful Return 201. The course for after the baby phase. A curriculum and community for when you have a toddler, or preschooler, or school-aged kiddo, or a tween...and you're still looking for support with work-life integration. Still looking to connect more deeply with other working parents.
If this sounds like you, I hope you'll pick Mindful Return as a community you choose to deepen your connection to this year, by joining us for the ONLY session of Mindful Return 201 we are running in 2026, from May 4 - May 29. (In other words, if you've wanted to become one of the "Mindful Return Alums" I'm always talking about, here is your chance.)
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Who's teaching?: Me (Lori), Lauren Gordon (whom many of you will remember as your coach for the 101 course for new moms), George Hwang, and Sage Morgan Hubbard.
What do we cover during the 4 weeks? Self-care, burnout, and guilt. Time management. Strengthening relationships. And navigating our careers.
What's the format? The program is 4 weeks. On Mondays, you get one lesson to read. On Wednesdays, you get a video lesson (30-40 minutes). And on Fridays, we have a live one-hour group coaching call from 1-2pm Eastern. We do record the Friday calls for those who can't attend live. Also, you have indefinite access to the course materials; we have a mantra that there is "no such thing as late in Mindful Return land!"
How to sign up? All the details and the registration link are here.
What does it cost? $499. Consider using professional development budget from your employer, if you have such funds (we're happy to provide a certificate of completion at the end, if that would be helpful), or ask if your employer would cover the program as a parental benefit. If none of those is an option, but you know you'd benefit and have a financial hardship, complete our Mindful Return Financial Assistance Form to be considered for reduced-fee access.
What do you get afterward? Free access to our monthly one-hour Mindful Return Alumni working parent group "Calls for Calm" that you can join from anywhere, quarterly alumni walks (in the DC area - we rotate from DC to MD to VA and back again), and the ability to register for our live working parent retreats, held 1-2 times per year.
On the fence about joining us? My fellow course coach, George, and I are hosting a Mindful Return 201 Open House from 12:30-1pm on Friday, April 24. Register here for the Open House, and you can drop in to ask any questions you might have, talk to us about whether this community would be a good fit for you - anything that's on your mind. (Can't make it to the Open House? E-mail me with any questions, and I'm happy to reply.)
This course gave me a weekly community where I could show up as my fullest self. As someone who had their first baby on the cusp of the pandemic and is one of the only parents working at my current company, I hadn’t found that yet! Our teachers showed up with compassion, wisdom and created community in each Zoom call.
Lauren Director of Education, Mom of a Toddler
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#AmplifyVoices
It's Earth Day on the 22nd! Here's a link to 10 ways you can celebrate and care for our earth. Also, you might be interested in this free Kripalu virtual summit, Amplify Voices of the Global Majority: Honoring Indigenous Knowledge for a Changing World. "At its heart, Amplify Voices is a collective act of humility. A recognition that long before modern leadership theories, wellness trends, or institutional frameworks, there were—and still are—peoples who have stewarded land, language, lineage, and life itself through ceremony, story, song, and relational intelligence."
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Mindful Return Book Talks
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*Link to Webinar Available* How to Be a Happier Parent — I recently had the pleasure of sitting down in conversation with KJ Dell’Antonia — journalist, parenting expert, and former lead editor of The New York Times Motherlode blog — to talk about her book How to Be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute. We explored why modern parenting can feel more stressful than joyful, and how shifting our expectations and mindset — rather than doing more — can transform daily family life. KJ shared practical, research-backed strategies (drawn from interviews with hundreds of families and her own experience) to help reduce friction, ease pressure, and create more connection at home. If you missed the live conversation, you can catch the replay here. |
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May 7, 12–1pm Eastern: The Mother Code — Join me in conversation with author Ruthie Ackerman for a powerful discussion on rethinking motherhood, identity, and the stories we inherit — and the ones we choose to write for ourselves. What would the world look like if there were as many stories about motherhood as there are people? In The Mother Code, Ruthie blends reporting and memoir to explore how traditional expectations of motherhood have shaped — and often limited — women’s lives. Together, we’ll unpack what it means to embrace mothering as a radical, expansive act, and how we can begin to disentangle ourselves from inherited narratives that no longer serve us. Register here. |
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*Last Chance to Buy* Ultimate Pumping
Room Bundle
“Can’t wait to pump! I just love my office lactation room!” Said no one. EVER. Too many pumping spaces feel like broom closets — because they were broom closets. This Mother’s Day, let’s bring a little dignity (and joy!) into those rooms with the Ultimate Pumping Room Bundle. Signed books. Cozy blanket. Lactation essentials. Nourishing snacks & teas. All designed to support new moms during the quiet, unseen moments of their day. Surprise a new mama. Stock your office lactation room. Celebrate your remote employees. Order by April 20 for Mother’s Day delivery. Order here.
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Birthday Writing Jam
If you’ve been meaning to carve out a little space for yourself — to pause, reflect, and reconnect — this is your invitation. In honor of my birthday (and a year that’s deepened my appreciation for celebrating life), I’m co-hosting a special 2-hour Birthday Writing Jam with the wonderful Amy Henderson. No writing experience is needed — just come as you are. Together, we’ll create a space for connection, creativity, and a little bit of magic. ✨
📅 April 29
⏰ 1–3 PM Eastern
📍 On Zoom
Amy’s writing sessions have been such a gift in my own life, and it means so much to share this experience with the Mindful Return community.
And yes — it’s completely free. Use code BirthdayJam when you register.
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