January '25 in the SMP
2025 Ch-ch–ch-changes…
Rose and I are making progress on the relaunch of Attachment Matters! We’ve decided to keep with Substack as our platform. We are now busily working together to get that built and to make this partnership more official. We’re so excited about the new features we’ll be able to offer you along with the podcast conversations!
I’ll continue to keep you informed about our progress and let you know when you can start accessing that shiny new Attachment Matters Substack!
As I’ve teased, I’ve got some major projects that are taking shape. Until they’re a bit more resilient, and I’m confident I know how they’ll impact your experience, I’m going to continue to be mysterious. What I know at this point is there will be some resulting content changes here on the SMP Substack.
For now the podcast is paused, but I do hope to relaunch this at some point. I love creating and offering this audio content that so many find supportive, but I need to figure out how to make this a sustainable endeavor. In the meantime, there are plenty of episodes found in the podcast tab, and if you’re searching specifically for conversations with other moms, you’ll find that episode list here:
conversations with stoic mamas
I’ll definitely still be composing monthly newsletters and occasional written pieces, but I’m so excited to let you know we’ll be offering much more guest content from other Stoic mamas! I couldn’t be more thrilled to devote this platform to collecting and sharing more stories that highlight the powerful work so many mamas are doing to strengthen their families and renew their quality of Life.
We’ve already tested out some articles with our first guest contributor that quickly hit the most popular list! You can check out Walk With Mom’s supportive content that so clearly resonates with our SMP audience here:
The Third Path: Supporting My Trans Identified Daughter by Focusing on Connection
Be sure to subscribe to her Substack, if you haven’t already. I highly recommend!
and Eloise’s eloquent and inspiring family update:
Letting go of what life is “supposed” to look like…
I’ve invited more Stoic mamas to share their transformation stories and what’s working for them to reclaim their agency, be calming alphas in their families, and get back to living satisfying and meaningful lives. I am so eager for you to hear what these wise mamas have to say! If you have a story you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out to me (by replying to this email) and we’ll determine if it’s a good fit for the SMP.
The SMP Center
Finally a reminder that at the end of January, doors are temporarily closing to new members as the SMP Mighty Network undergoes construction. (If you’re already a member, please know that this will be outside our space and the noise will not disrupt our groove in there.)
If you’re ready to create your own transformation story and get a new life (your old life is never coming back, I’m afraid,) in which you operate from an authentic, grounded center and can once again access joy (alongside the inevitable pain of Life,) please don’t delay. We’d love to support you!
When I asked our current members what they gain and why they keep showing up in our community, here’s what they said: (These comments were offered by members who’ve given me permission to share their words.)
For a refuge from the nonsense (SMP code for this circumstance) that allows openness, honesty and exploration of another way. Company in our search for solid ground. For the love and support.
The particular experience of being a parent of a trans-identified child can only be fully understood by other parents, plus emphasis on healthy attachment and personal growth while navigating this challenging circumstance.
I get community…I feel less alone and believe We learn from each other particularly how to navigate this curveball life has thrown at us.
What I get out of this work and this group is less reactivity and triggers. And that leads to greater connection and empathy and true inner peace…The ability to stay calm, grounded and centered in the midst of the trans storm is a skill that for so many of us needs to be learned. When life is easy and smooth, staying peaceful, compassionate, kind, grounded, etc is easy. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the lens you see it through) life is rarely easy and smooth for very long.
Only one week in this group and I'm already so grateful. I agree with the other comments - we are a group of women who can truly understand the pain of what we are experiencing. I like that no one has a victim mentality and is willing to look at this very terrible situation from a different lens.
Ultimately no one knows what life is going to bring us. Modeling for our children how to live as healthy beings who engage in self-care, have good boundaries, and have compassion for ourselves and others gives them a softer place to land when they need us. We can’t make this medical transgender social contagion trend disappear; we can only be present and loving as they reach adulthood and make their choices along their life journeys.
I want to ensure you know that joining us in no way means that you’re giving up on your child. It’s recognizing that YOU are the answer to what ails you and seeking the support and resources you need to be a stabilizing presence in your child’s life. Your child definitely still needs you—but on solid ground, not eggshells. What is it that you need to regain your faith in yourself?
If it’s a learning environment filled with moms who understand your pain and are dedicated to strengthening themselves and their families, we invite you to apply to join us by going to bit.ly/SMPCenter
(If you think you might need more intensive support or you’re a dad and ineligible for Center membership, go here to explore working 1:1 with me: https://paperbell.me/stoic-mom)
“So I turned myself to face me.” -David Bowie