Hi Friends!
I was updating my "about" section, and thought maybe I'd share it in a post - I'm a bit overdue for a recent intro anyway.
Thanks so much for being here and supporting my writing. I'm the author of the picture book for new babies and moms, "Rock You Tonight." You may have also seen my writing on sites like Her View From Home, TodayParents, LoveWhatMatters, or ScaryMommy. And I've got several works in progress for new books to come.
My background as a Speech Language Pathologist helped to establish a core interest and passion for the importance of effective communication in building quality relationships. Specifically, my work with children on the autism spectrum opened my eyes to the ways in which we break down and carefully teach, coach and model the intricate complexities of social dynamics while working with that population. But I noticed how it seemed to stand in stark contrast to the way those skills are "taught" to typically developing children.
Because so often those ever important, ever complex, ever confusing even for grown adults, relationship skills are NOT taught. Rather it's assumed that typically developing children will simply pick them up as they go. When I became a mother myself, and was tasked with helping my own children through natural conflicts and upsets that occur, I found myself leaning on my experience doing therapy as a Speech Language Pathologist.
As my writing about motherhood has developed, so has my passion for growing an understanding within parenthood that helping our children to build the skills necessary for strong healthy relationships is perhaps our greatest legacy to leave them. That we will begin to purposefully work on their ability to understand their emotions, to look deeper at the under layers of a situation, to see something from another perspective, to recognize the differences between a positive and a toxic relationship, to repair a conflict in part by owning their contribution, to voice their needs and boundaries, to formulate and deliver a true apology, to accept someone else's sincere apology, and on and on because the delicate nature of relationships seems never ending really.
These are skills - just like teaching our child to walk, or to read, or to ride a bike - and they deserve our careful teaching and coaching. And these skills are HARD, maybe the hardest to master, which is likely why generations have avoided intently and purposefully practicing them with our children. It's tough to teach something that we don't understand ourselves... so then we don't. But we can! And we'll grow those skills right along with our children as we begin to give them the attention and teaching they've so long been overdue.
You'll find my writing to focus on growing and nurturing relationships with the ones we get to call ours, and on the content found within true connection. My experience as a Speech Language Pathologist has helped serve as a solid foundation, but my journey in motherhood has awakened a true passion.
Thanks for joining me here, so glad to have you!
-Emily
Cheryl Wolfe
January 06, 2024
Dear Emily, please say it again for those in the back row!!! “…to build the skills necessary for strong, healthy relationships, is perhaps our greatest legacy to leave them.” Your voice resonates with my heart, passion, and work and does so so clearly and eloquently. “It’s tough to teach something we don’t understand ourselves…so then we don’t.” The Inter-generational brokenness that leaves us questioning our worth, our belonging, and unskilled in knowing how to build and repair healthy relationships. Like you, my study and work in child development/family studies have provided a needed perspective – necessary to nurture change within myself for the sake of my loves. I could go on…all to say how happy I am to have found you here! Sending encouragement to keep doing this very hard work!
Warmly, Cheryl