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Debbie Sorensen's avatar

I love this essay so much. Parenthood is much more fun when we find a little humor in it. Just this week I was laughing really hard with one of my therapy clients, and thinking about how connecting humor can be. Those are some of my favorite moments - as a mom and a therapist.

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Yael Schonbrun's avatar

Laughing in therapy is the best, isn't it? So connecting and healing, and, selfishly, it makes a job that can sometimes be a downer a whole lot more fun!

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Gwendolyn Watson, LMFT's avatar

yes! I laugh a lot with my clients and I agree, it's so connecting and normalizing around the ways that we are all navigating life as best we can - and it's quite absurd as it unfolds around us too haha :)

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Yael Schonbrun's avatar

Exactly--so well put!!!

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Shelly Mazzanoble's avatar

Okay, I loved all of this (especially the part where you give me a shout-out! Thank you!!! Our posts were very well-timed!) The "silent fart" line got a laugh out of my son too. I feel liberated! (But I'm still going to obsess over why his sons keep ripping? Foot parasite???? Razors in his feet???? Or is it because he insists on playing basketball without shoes on?)

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Yael Schonbrun's avatar

And by the way, the posts were totally not just well-timed. I hadn’t planned to release this today but yours inspired me!

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Shelly Mazzanoble's avatar

Oh wow! Your post was like the more mature, better written, more informative, less unhinged companion piece mine! We could not have planned it better!

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Gwendolyn Watson, LMFT's avatar

This post so resonates with me, I'm definitely proud of how I continue to let go more and laugh more as my mothering years continue. The sentiments of "all that extra "perfect parenting" might not move the needle...and might just leave you burnt out" also flows nicely into a post I'm working on in a similar vein: how to build connection in your partnership by doing less! I'm excited to share it next week :)

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Yael Schonbrun's avatar

Ooh, I'm into any topic that advises us to do less and I am so curious to see how you'll apply that to partnership!

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Eva Jannotta's avatar

Yes yes yes YES! This is giving me energy.

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Yael Schonbrun's avatar

You're the best, thank you Eva! And Happy Un-Mother's Day;)!

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BayPoodle's avatar

This was an excellent newsletter. Being able to laugh at ourselves and our kids (and our mothers with dementia, should we be so fortunate as to live in THAT particular sandwich) is key to not just surviving, but feeling good about surviving. And thank you to you and everyone else (I’m looking at you, Middle Aged Lady Mom, but I don’t know how to tag people…) for reminding me of that!

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Yael Schonbrun's avatar

It takes the most special kind of human EVER to find the funny in a situation involving both teens and moms with dementia! Which is why I adore you.

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Kathryn Barbash, PsyD's avatar

Loved all of this! Humor is so important in parenthood.

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