As you’re planning your gift-giving this Christmas for your child particularly, remember the most important gift is you. As working moms giving ourselves to our family matters most, yet can be the toughest thing to do with all the competing demands for our time and attention.

Earlier today I caught part of a very practical interview with bonding expert Heather Forbes, author of Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control, and co-founder of the Beyond Consequences Institute–and working mom has much to teach us about cultivating loving, healthy bonds with our kids–especially during those times when you want to give up and believe that no matter what you do you can’t get your child’s cooperation and respect.

If you’re there, then I have found a research-based solution for you in the Beyond Consequences Institute. I encourage you to visit Healther’s site and start with her beautiful testimonial which describes her journey into this work of helping parents struggling to bond and love children whose behavior is difficult and even severe because of a history of pain and brokenness.

Hearing Heather’s interview on Heart, Mind, and Strength radio show this morning made me rethink discipline–and how important my own behavior as a parent is as part of the process of disciplining and guiding my kids. I think you’ll agree once you read Heather’s story and learn of her work. If you know wonderful parents struggling with difficult behavior in their child consider making a Heather’s book a gift. You will have given them the power to restore and renew their bond with their child. What better gift is there in the eyes of a child?

I have asked Heather about the possibility of interviewing her. I don’t know what her availability is, but rest assured I’ll let you know.

Let’s not just give gifts–let’s be gifts this holiday year….

What are some ways you can make yourself a gift to members of your family? How can you be present with them?

So, what about you? If you’re a married professional you should have one, or at least have one available to you. What else would you call a select group of truly marvelous, smart, and caring professional women gathered for the simple purpose of inspiring and strategically supporting each other’s “dreams” for their personal life at home?

I call it a dream team. Please don’t tell me you have no dreams for your home life! You wouldn’t dare tolerate such nonsense in your business or career. A career or business without strategic goals won’t accomplish much of anything worthwhile, and you know what–neither will a marriage. Our marriages need the fresh winds of aspiration to keep them alive and growing too. As professional women, we tend to be happiest when we’re in a place of fruitfulness. This fruitfulness can be easily seen in our attitudes about our marriage and family life…it really shows up there, doesn’t it?

Well, having a dream team helps us to cultivate the fruitfulness so essential to our happiness at home.

Happiness has become quite a paradox for so many of us, hasn’t it? As Matthew Kelly says, you and I know the things that make us happy. And yet, we don’t do those things.

Why? Because we’re just too busy. Here’s the real irony–we’re too busy trying to be happy!

If your marriage has taken a back seat to the demands of your career, your parenting, or anything else and you know it - but aren’t sure how to give it the priority and time it deserves on a daily basis - a dream team can provide inspiration and dunamis you need to rejuvenate your marriage, yourself, and your family life!

This month I am starting my Inspirare Mastermind Group. The name Inspirare, comes from the Latin meaning of the word inspire which means to breathe life into another.

Six professional women will join me in this private mastermind group to experience a re-invigoration of their marriage relationship, personal renewal, and to break through old habits, attitudes, and expectations that have held them back. The group will encourage, strategically support, challenge, and hold each other accountable to achieve their individual goals.

You can benefit from this if you want to unlock your potential to thrive by:

• Honestly assessing your relationship
• learning to communicate more collaboratively
• experiencing greater emotional intimacy
• dealing more effectively with personal and relational concerns
• caring for yourself and your partner more intentionally

If you are ready to love and be loved more deeply than ever before, this dream team’s for you! I invite you to start living a bigger, more satisfying reality in your marriage relationship now, before the rush of the holidays, before the end of the year… doesn’t that sound worthwhile?

You, your partner, and children are so worth it…

Contact me to discuss joining this dream team.

Note: There will be two mastermind groups consisting of a maximum of six participants per group. The first 6 people to sign up will receive a complimentary copy of New York Times Bestseller, Matthew Kelly’s inspiring book, The Rhythm of Life–an early Christmas gift for giving your relationship the priority it deserves!