Growing Up in Santa Cruz

  • November 2025

    Staying Grounded Through the Holidays

    The holidays can bring moments of magic — sparkling lights, familiar songs, cozy family gatherings. But for many parents and caregivers, they also bring full schedules, high expectations, sensory overload, and an endless to-do list. The season that’s meant to bring connection can easily leave our nervous systems on overdrive. As parents and caregivers, we often focus on supporting our children through holiday stress: keeping routines somewhat consistent, preparing them for transitions, and helping them manage the emotional ups and downs of change. Yet we sometimes forget that our own regulation forms the foundation for how our children experience the season. When we feel grounded, calm, and connected to ourselves,…

  • A smiling pregnant woman, wearing light green satin pajamas and a white bandeau top, leans over a modern white freestanding bathtub. She is gently touching the running water from a chrome faucet with her right hand, while her left hand is cradling her baby bump. The bright bathroom features light wood blinds on a window, potted green plants, a white vanity, and a round mirror. She is wearing fuzzy brown slippers on a striped bath mat.
    October 2025

    Birth Beyond Fear

    October brings with it the crisp air of autumn, pumpkins on doorsteps, and a season of playful scares. Halloween may be about jump-scares and haunted houses, but for many expecting parents, the unknowns of birth can feel far more intimidating than any ghost story. Birth is often portrayed as unpredictable and overwhelming, leaving many people feeling more afraid than excited. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. By using somatic practices—body- based approaches that ground us in the present—we can prepare for birth with calm, trust, and even joy. Fear is a normal part of anticipating birth. The body and mind instinctively tense when faced with uncertainty. Questions about…